.{LIBliARYOF CONGRESS.? 

, * i 

' I [SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT.] | 

^ — ^ 

! UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.! 



THE 

CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS, 

OR 

THE TRIUMPHS OF GRACE 
IN THE AMY. 




PHILADELPHIA : 
PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 



The LibK 
Ob Congress 



WASHINGTON 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 
1847, by 
A. W. MITCHELL, 
in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court for 
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



Stereotyped by 
S. DOUGLAS WTETH, 
No. 7 Pear St., Philadelphia. 

Printed b_r 
WM, S. MARTIEX. 



CONTENTS. 



Preface. - page v 

The perusal of a tract accompanied with a sig- 
nal blessing, - ^ - - 9 
An account of Captain Page, who died at Mon- 

ghyr, in Bengal, August 31, 1829, - 20 
Extracts of letters from Captain John Gordon, 
of the 2nd or Queen's regiment of foot, who 
died at Barbadoes, December 22, 1816, 56 

Account of Major , - - - 94 

Loss arising from the want of Christian inter- 
course, r 100 
Conversion of Lieutenant W — , - - 103 
The conversion of Mr. — , of the Medical StaiF, 

and of Captain T— , at Gibraltar, - 124 
The dying Soldier, - - - - 150 

Corporal Murray, of the 5th Regiment, United 
States Infantry, - - - 104 

(iii) 



iv 



CONTENTS. 



Account of a young officer in the American 
Army, from "Thoughts on Religious Expe- 
rience," - - - - 180 

Sketch of the Christian character of the late 
Col. A. R. Thompson who fell in the Flo- 
rida war, Dec. 25th, 1837, - 193 

CoxcLUDixG Remarks, - - - 204 



PEEPACE. 



The following work is chiefly compiled 
from a volume published by the London 
Religious Tract Society^ entitled " The 
Church in the Army/^ by the Rev. Wil- 
liam Innes, of Edinburgh. The following 
extracts from the original preface exhibit 
its end and object. It will be perceived* 
that most of these signal triumphs of Di- 
vine grace, occurred in the British army. 
We have added a few instances from the 
American army, which show that the same 

1* (V) 



vi 



PREFACE. 



grace is sufficient for all, and produces the 
same effects on all. — Ed. Pres. Board of 
Fuhlication. 

It is pleasing to reflect, that amidst all 
the dangers, in a spiritual point of view, 
connected with a military life, there are to 
be found in the army, those whose Chris- 
tian character, to say the least, would 
stand a comparison with that of any other 
class. Indeed, it may be reasonably ex- 
pected, that the Christian profession of 
such should be of a higher standard than 
that of others, as half measures will not 
do in their situation. They must manfully 
take their ground. Decision is essentially 
necessary to meet the opposition which 
they are almost constantly called to en- 
counter. 

" While such a publication as the pre- 
sent, shows the variety of instruments by 



PREFACE. 



vii 



which our Divine Redeemer brings indivi- 
duals to the knowledge of himself, it may 
also be of advantage in suggesting to some, 
certain means of usefulness within their 
reach, of which they have not previously 
thought of availing themselves, from their 
not being properly aware of their efficacy. 
If this should be the result of such exam- 
ples of the power of Divine grace being 
made known, the publication of them will 
not be in vain. 

" One case will be found in the follow- 
ing pages, in which an officer, whose atten- 
tion had been directed to the Bible, was 
much discouraged, from being for years 
ignorant of the fact, that others had dis- 
covered the same truths in that book that 
he had himself In so far as this publica- 
tion may be known, there will be no room 
for a similar discouragement in future. 
Neither officer nor private in the army 
will be left to imagine that he stands alone. 



viii 



PREFACE. 



He will have all the encouragement to 
steadfastness which can arise from knowing 
that not a few, even in his own profession, 
hold the same principles, and are animated 
by the same spirit with himself.'^ 



THE 



CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. 



THE PERUSAL OF A TRACT ACCOMPANIED 
WITH A SIGNAL BLESSING. 

Having heard some years ago, from an 
esteemed Christian friend, now in exten- 
sive practice in the medical profession, an 
account of a remarkable effect produced 
by reading a tract, on the mind of a young 
officer, I requested of him to give it to me 
in writing. To this request I received the 
following reply 

Of my old respected friend. Lieutenant 
R., I cannot tell you much, so many years 
have elapsed since he entered into glory, 
and I never have committed to paper any 
memoranda of his short, though most satis- 

9 



10 



A SIGNAL BLESSING 



factory, passage from the kingdom of dark- 
ness to that of Hght and immortaUty. It 
was about the year 1812, that, in the dis- 
charge of my professional duties, I was re- 
quested to attend on Lieutenant R., who 
was the subject of severe but transient dis- 
ease. I had been struck by the personal 
appearance and honourable conduct of this 
young officer. I think I never knew a 
handsomer man of twenty-five, one of 
more pleasing manners, or more gentle- 
manly feelings. He was universally be- 
loved and respected ; and, for these circum- 
stances, his company was so generally 
sought after, that he became devoted to all 
the follies and unsatisfying pursuits of plea- 
sure, falsely so called. On recovering his 
usual degree of health, he called on me, to 
request that I would report him off* the 
sick list, and, at the same time, tendered 
me some pecuniary acknowledgment for 
my professional services, stating that he 
had been accustomed to remunerate my 
predecessor. My answer was, of course, 
that which Christian principle and inte- 
grity would suggest to any honest man 
paid by his country. 

This seemed to strike Lieutenant R.,and 



ACCOMPANYING A TRACT. 11 

he exclaimed, with an oath, " Doctor, there 
must be something more than I thought in 
you methodists I give you his own 
words. 

Early in the afternoon of that day, he 
called at my apartments v/ith a ticket for 
the theatre, and which, I know, he could 
only have obtained by paying an exorbi- 
tant price, there being two celebrated per- 
formers from London that night, which, 
for some days previously, had raised the 
box tickets to four times their ordinary 
value. On his presenting it to me, I ex- 
pressed my sense of obligation for his in- 
tended favour, but told him that neither 
my principles nor inclination would per- 
mit me to use it. Being in the act of 
arranging some tracts, I put into his hand. 
The Death of x^ltamont, a tract pub- 
lished by the Religious Tract Society, 
merely observing to him, " As you seem 
so anxious to confer an obligation on me, 
put this little book into your pocket, and 
read it to oblige me.^^ 

He left me to dress for the theatre, to 
which place he went early to secure a seat. 
He sat in a corner box, and as he after- 
wards told me, merely to pass away some 



12 



A SIGNAL BLESSING 



part of the previous time before the play- 
began, he took the tract from his pocket, 
and began to read it. So signal and mighty 
were the operations of the Spirit of God 
on his mind, that he became wholly and 
exclusively absorbed in the contents of the 
tract, and at the termination of the play, 
after midnight, he left the theatre without 
having felt the slightest interest in the per- 
formances. To use his own words, "Con- 
science was the only performer before me 
that night/' 

It was about three o'clock in the morn- 
ing, that after having, on his return from 
the theatre, thrown himself undressed on 
his bed, and h^vain attempted to drown 
the voice of God in oblivion, he came over 
to niy apartments, and loudly knocking at 
the,; door, requested to be admitted. As 
long as memory retains her seat, I can 
never forget his haggard looks and his 
tremulous voice. With a look of despair, 
and in a manner which seemed to carry 
with it a conviction of irretrievable ruin, 
he exclaimed, " Tell me, oh ! tell me, is it 
possible that I can obtain mercy and for- 
giveness from the offended God of Alta- 
mont ? Tell me, oh ! tell me, if you really 



ACCOMPANYINa A TRACT. 13 

think I possibl}^ can Hastily dressing 
myself, we sat together on the sofa ; he, in 
a state of restless agony, which expressed 
itself in incessant weeping and wringing 
of the hands, reiterating again and again 
the question ho had just put to me. I at 
once led him to the throne of grace ; wres- 
tled along with him, that He would reveal 
himself in all his mighty, enlightening, and 
consolatory power, who ever lives to save 
to the uttermost all who come to God by 
him. Whilst on our knees, I brought be- 
fore him the boundless mercy of Jeho- 
vah, and the freeness and fulness of that 
salvation, which whosoever will may re- 
ceive without money and without price ; 
and it was worth living for, to witness the 
eagerness with which he listened to the 
simple tale of redeeming love, and the glad 
tidings of free and full salvation by faith in 
the atoning blood of Jesus. The same day 
and night he scarcely tasted food or took 
any rest, and no drowning man could more 
vehemently call for assistance, nor any 
famishing man more greedily devour the 
means of support, than he sought for war- 
rant in the promises of the gospel, to lay 
hold of the hope there set before him. 
2 



14 



A SIGNAL BLESSING 



In a few days, it pleased God to enable 
him to cast himself, as a ruined, helpless 
sinner, into the arms of Jesus ; and I can 
never forget the expression of his counte- 
nance, pale and languid as it was with 
groaning and cries, which had been his 
meat day and night, when, on entering his 
room early on the fourth morning, it be- 
came almost illuminated with tears of sa- 
cred joy, and he exclaimed, "I have found 
him whom my soul loveth, the Friend of 
sinners, who his own self says, ' Him that 
cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.' 
Look at it ; do look at it in this precious 
book which you gave me at the same 
moment holding up a New Testament, 
which was to him the pearl of great price. 
I had, on the preceding day, directed his 
attention to the following passages of Scrip- 
ture, among several others : Luke ii. 10 ; 
John iii. 14 — 17; vi. 37; Rom. x. 4 ; 1 
Tim. i. 15 ; Heb. vii. 25 ; 1 John i. 9 ; ii. 
1, 2. He had committed these, and many 
other passages of holy writ, to memory, 
and dwelt on them with indescribable sa- 
tisfaction. 

From this hour, having credited the sim- 
ple declarations of truth, he went on his 



ACCOMPANYING A TRACT. • l5 

way rejoicing, knowing in whom he had 
believed, and that he would keep that 
which he had committed to his trust, to 
the solemn hour when he should be called 
to appear at the dread tribunal of a right- 
eous God, where inflexible justice would 
be satisfied with nothing short of that robe 
which hides and cancels all our sins. 

Within a month^he was called to embark 
with his regiment for the West Indies ; and 
scarcely had he reached that unhealthy 
climate, even before disembarking, when 
it pleased God, in his mysterious provi- 
dence, to arrest him by yellow fever, and 
in a few days to call him to the realms of 
perfect purity and bliss. On the day pre- 
ceding his embarkation, he supplied him- 
self liberally with Bibles and tracts, for 
distribution to all on board, and his sepa- 
ration from me was one which may be 
imagined, but which I dare not trust my- 
self to describe. I was to hear from him 
on his arrival at Jamaica ; but the first ac- 
count of him was an official report of his 
death ; and this was soon followed by the 
return of his faithful confidential servant 
man, who told me, with the deepest sor- 
row, that after a sudden attack of fever, 



16 



A SIGNAL BLESSING 



which deprived him of his reason, he re- 
covered his consciousness, and requested 
the presence of all his brother officers, to 
whom, in his expiring moments, he preach- 
ed Christ crucified as the only refuge from 
the wrath to come, and the only source of 
solid happiness. During this time he held 
in his quivering hand the identical tract 
that he had received from me before going 
to the theatre, and with this messenger of 
mercy, grasped more firmly as life fled, he 
expired, amid the lamentations of those 
who esteemed him as a man and an officer, 
and was buried with the tract pressed to 
his heart. 

The first observation that naturally oc- 
curs on perusing this very interesting nar- 
rative, is, that it contains one of the most 
striking illustrations of the doctrine of the 
influence of the Spirit of God on the hu- 
man soul. This is clearly a doctrine of 
revelation. But here is a simple state- 
ment of facts which cannot be at all ac- 
counted for on any other principle. There 
was nothing in the natural disposition, no 
previous tendency of the mind to religion, 
or a religious melancholy, by which this 



ACCOMPANYING A TRACT. 17 

singular, sudden, and complete change 
could at all be explained. Those, then, 
who, when they see an eflect produced, 
naturall}^ look for a cause, will find them- 
selves, we are convinced, completely at a 
loss to account for this wonderful mental 
revolution that occurred in the history of 
this young officer ; unless they are prepar- 
ed to ascribe it to- that cause which is so 
distinctly mentioned in the Scripture as 
the origin of every such change, that 
mighty power wherewith the Lord works 
in the hearts of them that believe, Eph. i. 
19. Let us reflect with gratitude, that if 
we need the aid of almighty power to sub- 
due our evil propensities, and to bring our 
souls into a state of confdrmity to the will 
of God, in proportion to the importance of 
such a blessing, is the freeness with which 
it is promised. The promise is without 
limitation as to any distinction of character; 

Your heavenly Father will give the 
Holy Spirit to them that ask him,'^ Luke 
xi. 13. 

. This narrative also furnishes the highest 
encouragement to endeavour to promote 
the spiritual benefit of those around us. 
What a signal blessing accompanied the 



18 



A SIGNAL BLESSING 



giving of this tract ! Amidst the many 
discouragements which those who av^il 
themselves of this mode of usefulness may 
meet with, surely one such example as 
this would more than compensate the la- 
bours and disappointments of a lifetime. 
How high was the honour conferred on 
my friend'^ in being thus the instrument of 
bringing one erring fellow mortal into the 
path that leads to everlasting life ! 

Nor can we pas^ this very signal in- 
stance of the triumphs of Divine grace, 
without admiring the beautiful adaptation 
of the gospel of Christ to the state and 
wants of man as a sinner. Our Divine 
Redeemer waits to be gracious. He is 
standing ready with his heaUng balm to 
pour upon the heart of the wounded sin- 
ner. While we admire the simpUcity with 
which the Avriter of the foregoing letter 
stated the gospel to his friend, when, feel- 
ing the alarms of an awakened conscience, 
he trembled under a sense of his danger ; 
it gives us pleasure to record such a case, 
as it presents at once to every reader the 
only ground of hope to any of our fallen 
race. We find a great variety in the 
shades of human character j but let it never 



ACCOMPANYING A TRACT. 19 

be forgotten, that, amidst them all, it is the 
testimony of mierring truth on the one 
hand, that all have sinned and come short 
of the glory of God ; and that it is equally 
so on the other, that, while Jesus is " the 
way, the truth, and the life,^' and no man 
Cometh to the Father but by him, we are 
as distinctly assured that, him that cometh 
to him he will in no wise cast out, John 
xiv. 6 ; vi. 37. May every reader possess 
that peace and joy in which Lieutenant 
R., after he knew the gospel lived, and in 
which at last he died. 



CAPTAIN PAGE. 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE CAPTAIN PAGE, 
WHO DIED AT MONGHYR, IN BENGAL, 
AUGUST 31, 1829. 

The following account is extracted from 
a volume, published at Calcutta, by the 
Rev. Andrew Leslie, missionary at Mon- 
ghyr. It is entitled, "Memoirs and Re- 
mains of Henry Edwin Page, late a Cap- 
tain in the Service of the Honourable East 
India Company, and Fort-adjutant at 
Monghyr.^^ 

Captain Page's fascinating manners in 
the days of his gaiety, and at the same 
time, the little satisfaction which at that 
period he enjoyed, are thus described: — 

By the whole of his brother officers, 
Captain Page was esteemed and beloved. 
Naturally of a social disposition, he was 
at all their parties ; and liberally endowed 
with cheerfulness, and with wit of the 
most genuine kind, and having a fund of 
(20) 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



21 



anecdotes which he had the power of tell- 
ing well, he not only made himself enter- 
taining, but was the life of all their com- 
panies. But it was the talent he possessed 
of both writing and reciting poetry, that 
rendered him peculiarly interesting. With 
a keen sense of the beauties of this species 
of composition, and with a tenacious me- 
mory for its recollection, and with a voice 
finely adapted for its recitation, no person 
with any thing like taste, could help being 
charmed with his society. 

His society was accordingly much sought 
for. Wherever he went, he afforded de- 
light. Courted and caressed, his life v/as 
gay and brilliant ; and if felicity consists 
in being universally beloved, he must have 
been happy. But this was not the case. 
His pleasures were comparatively those 
of a moment only, and were not calculated 
to rest at the point of innocence. They 
carried him farther. They led him, ac- 
cording to their undeviating tendency, into 
scenes, and into the commission of acts, 
httle adapted to produce peace of mind. 
He was oftentimes secretly ashamed of 
himself, covered with confusion in his soul, 
loathing his very being, and, like Colonel 



22 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



Gardiner, when in similar circumstances, 
ready to envy the Ufe of a dog. 

Having visited Penang, for the recovery 
of his heaUh, he experienced a singular 
preservation before he returned to Bar- 
rackpore. This, with the account of his 
marriage, is thus mentioned : — 

After having determined on leaving 
Penang, only a few hours before the ship 
sailed, a gentleman at the station, knowing 
his pitiable circumstances, invited him to 
a residence, for a season, in his house. He, 
though his passage was taken, instantly 
complied ; and the ship sailed without 
him. But whither she went no one knows. 
She never reached her intended port, and 
has not been heard of since. It is sup- 
posed that she must have foundered some- 
where in the straits of Malacca. Often did 
Captain Page speak, with strong emotions 
of gratitude to God, of this signal deliver- 
ance ; and often was he accustomed to 
say, that had he been, at that period of his 
history, drowned, he must have been 
ruined for ever. It was only a few weeks 
before his death, that he recounted to the 
writer of these lines the particulars of this 
event, as well as several other remarkable 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



23 



instances of the goodness of God to him in 
hfe. 

After residing some time at Penang, and 
visiting Bombay, he returned, with his 
health very Uttle improved, to his regiment, 
in 1811. Here, notwithstanding the recent 
interposition of Providence, in saving him 
from a watery grave, he continued to tra- 
verse the same thoughtless round of gaie- 
ties and amusements as formerly. Tired, 
however, with some things in his life, he 
resolved to enter into the marriage state, 
which he did, in 1812, Avith a daughter 
of the late Colonel Morgan ; a lady who, 
with seven interesting children, lives to 
lament his loss. But his mind was, as yet, 
unchanged. He still attended the theatre 
and ball-room, and, to the distress of Mrs. 
Page, consumed his time and his property 
at the table of the gamester. He, though 
perfectly convinced that earthly pleasures 
could not confer felicity, still desired them 
with greediness. Mrs. Page, deprived of 
his society, was left by herself to pine 
away at home; and though she would 
sometimes entreat him, with tears, to de- 
sist, and though he would sometimes pro- 
mise to do so, yet he fell a victim to the 



24 AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



next temptation. It is almost needless to 
observe, that, under such circumstances, 
there could be, comparatively, little do- 
mestic comfort. Peace fled away ; union 
of heart ceased to exist. And this must 
ever be the case, where a husband seeks 
society and pleasures of such a stamp, and 
seeks them, too, from home. These are 
the things that never fail to destroy the 
comforts of that state, which was intended 
by God to be the means of an increase of 
happiness to all. 

The circumstances which led to that 
change of principles which he so conspi- 
cuously exhibited in after hfe, are thus 
described : — 

The time, however, came when Captain 
Page was to become the subject of impres- 
sions sufficiently powerful to lead him to 
enter, as it were, upon a new state of exist- 
ence, and to turn all his peculiar energies 
into a new direction. The circumstances 
that led to this change were of a character 
calculated to affect an intelligent and feel- 
ing mind. He himself, it should here be 
observed, had spent the first period of his 
life among pious friends : and an introduc- 
tion now, after the lapse of at least ten 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 25 

years, into a religious circle, must have 
tended to excite many recollections, and 
to revive many lessons of his early days. 
His regiment was at this time, (1814,) sta- 
tioned at Dinapore. One of the ladies of 
the mission family, then residing in that 
neighbourhood, the wife of the late Rev. 
J. Rowe, of Digah, being seriously ill, was 
kindly attended by the surgeon of the regi- 
ment to which Captain Page belonged. 
In his visits to this chamber of sickness, 
Captain Page was frequently his compa- 
nion. Mrs. Rowe was an interesting wo- 
man. She was of a peculiarly meek and 
sweet disposition. "Knowing,^^ says one 
that knew her well, " that in the midst of 
life she was in death, she made it the great 
business of her life to consider her latter 
end. She delighted much in meditating 
on, and conversing about her great change. 
Many of her sleepless hours were occupied 
in talking of those glories which eye hath 
not seen, nor ear heard, neither have en- 
tered into the heart of man to conceive, 
but which God hath prepared for those 
that love him. She was never so happy 
as when she had her conversation in hea- 
ven, from whence, also, she looked for the 
3 - 



26 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus she 
enjoyed a continual weanedness from the 
world ; and although she was often the 
subject of doubts and fears, she would look 
forward with a joyful expectation to the 
period when her Lord would come. Ex- 
hibiting, during her illness, the utmost de- 
gree of placidity, there was nothing in her 
appearance, though in the last stage of her 
existence, calculated to make her room a 
gloomy apartment to any mind. Captain 
Page delighted to accompany his friend, 
Dr. Spilsbury, to this abode. He was struck 
with wonder at the sight of Mrs. Rowe. 
He loved to gaze upon her calm counte- 
nance, and to be a witness of her meek 
deportment and address. Occasionally, 
however, while his friend was within, he 
remained without, and sometimes spent 
the interval in conversation with the Rev. 
W. Moore, who, at that time, occupied the 
house adjoining Mr. Rowe's. In one of 
these interviews, he flippantly, but, no 
doubt, good naturedly and generously 
enough, oflered to Mr. Moore a ticket for 
the evening's theatre. The refusal was 
what he might have expected : but he did 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 27 



not, probably, anticipate the serious re- 
marks with which it was to be accom- 
panied. He kindly listened to what was 
said, and never forgot it. What train of 
reflections now passed through his mind is 
not known. His heart, however, seems to 
have been touched by the Divine Spirit. 
And, as a proof that this was the case, he 
went on the following Sabbath for the first 
time, to the mission chapel, in which Mr. 
Moore and Mr. Rowe usually preached ; 
and then not only commenced a regular 
attendance himself, but endeavoured to 
bring in company with him as many friends 
as he could. 

"A word spoken in due season, how 
good is it ! A word fitly spoken is hke 
apples of gold in pictures of silver. It 
is better to go to the house of mourning, 
than to go to the house of feasting.'^ Visit- 
ing at the sick chamber of Mrs. Rowe, and 
particularly the remarks made to him by 
Mr. Moore relative to the theatre, seem 
to have been the principal means of 
awakening him to serious thought. Were 
all who profess Christianity to arm them- 
selves with " the sword of the Spirit, which 
is the word of God," and to seize every 



28 AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



opportunity of throwing in remarks of a 
religious tendency, there is no calculating 
Avhat might be the results. Here is a 
thoughtless and giddy young officer arrest- 
ed by a few observations of a common na- 
ture, and on a common subject. Probably 
the same reflections had often occurred to 
himself, or been suggested by others : but 
what will be ineffectual ninety nine times 
may not be so the hundredth. Hence, the 
importance of not being " weary in well- 
doing ; for in due season we shall reap, if 
we faint not.'^ It argues little for the Chris- 
tianity or the humanity of any professor, 
who can mingle with those who are in a 
state of alienation from God, and conse- 
quently, exposed to irretrievable danger, 
and yet make no strenuous efforts to show 
them their true condition. Captain Page 
was no sooner aware of his own circum- 
stances, than he endeavoured to bring 
others to the place where they were likely 
to be made acquainted with theirs. This 
proves that his Christianity was real and 
deep ; and that he had been penetrated 
with a solemn sense of the awful conse- 
quences attendant upon the neglect of the 
concerns of the soul. True religion is not 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 29 



selfish ; it is an expansive system. The 
spirit of the gospel is universal ; it wishes 
to embrace all. It offers freely, and would, 
at all times, rather give than take. It feels 
when men reject, and plies them again 
and again, with the most earnest entrea- 
ties. 

In addition to attending regularly upon 
the preaching of the gospel, Captain Page 
began to employ his time in reading reli- 
gious books; an abundance of which were 
lent^to him by his new friend, Mr. Moore. 
A work of Baxter's deeply affected him. 
The writer has heard him say, that, on 
finishing the volume, he exclaimed, "Well, 
if this is true, I am ruined He felt him- 
self completely unnerved, and was entirely 
powerless as to the commission of many 
things which he had before considered as 
harmless. He retired for prayer ; but, 
not content with going himself, he be- 
sought Mrs. Page to retire with him, a re- 
quest which met with an instant com- 
pliance. As if prayer had hitherto been a 
strange work to him, or as if he had felt 
ashamed to pray in the presence of his 
wife, he uttered not a word to her, but 
placing her by his side, and standing erect, 
3^ 



30 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



he poured out his heart before God. Igno- 
rant herself, at the time, of true rehgion, 
she could not imagine what had happened 
to her husband. She viewed the change 
with silent wonder. And she speedily saw, 
to her amazement, that what her tears and 
entreaties had not been able to accomplish, 
was now more than effected ; the gaming 
table was forsaken, and her own society 
at home was sought. This gave her un- 
feigned pleasure, and she soon began her- 
self to see and feel that there was a power 
in rehgion greater than she had ever ima- 
gined. 

But though he had avowed his change 
of views to Mrs. Page, he was not able, 
for some time to utter it abroad. The so- 
ciety in which he moved was not at all 
favourable for the expression of his senti- 
ments. But as true reUgion cannot long 
remain a secret, and as men in general, are 
sufficiently and more than sufficiently alive 
to the conduct of one another, the altera- 
tion of character in Captain Page was 
speedily observed. His attending the mis- 
sion chapel was not much thought of, par- 
ticularly as others of the same rank were 
ill the habit of fi-equenting it ; but his ab- 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



31 



senting himself from a ball, which took 
place just about this time, struck all with 
utter amazement. At such assemblies he 
had not only been a constant attendant, 
but from his uncommon cheerfulness, and 
his genuine wit, had generally been the 
presiding spirit. Exclamations were heard 
on every side. Parties and individuals 
were asking Avhat had happened. The 
ladies were reiterating, ^ Captain Page not 
attend the ball ! — Why ! what has befallen 
him? — What reason does he give But 
their exclamations were of. no avail. Cap- 
tain Page now saw that attendance at such 
places was incompatible with the will of 
God ; that their influence on the mind was 
evil ; and that they induced embarrass- 
ments, and tended to dry up the sources 
of benevolence. But, besides all this, his 
delight in such companies was gone. Other 
and nobler pleasures now filled his soul — 
even joys that the world cannot give, nei- 
ther take away. God was to him now the 
spring of enjoyment ; and where he could 
not find him, he never wished to go. 

At a subsequent part of his history, 
having occasion to sail from Madras to the 



32 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



Cape, on acconnt of his health, anxious to 
be useful to others, he took a parcel of 
tracts with him, that he might hand them, 
to the passengers. The struggle he felt in 
encountering the ridicule and contempt to 
which he knew his conduct would expose 
him, with the happy eifect, in one instance 
at least, of this mode of exercising Chris- 
tian benevolence, is thus described : — 

He left Madras, as he had determined, 
for the Cape ; and he sustained on the 
voyage the same uniformity of Christian 
character. He was full of love, full of 
zeal^ full of heavenly mindedness, and 
seemed to live for God only. As usual, he 
now endeavoured to be useful to his fellow 
voyagers, and for that purpose had provi- 
ded himself with a number of religious 
books and tracts, which he might lend and 
disperse among the company and crew. 
But this constituted to him a trial of no 
small magnitude. Previous- to the distri- 
bution of these tracts his confidence had 
almost failed, and he had nearly once more 
become " the coward. There was no 
pious person on board to second him ; and 
the company was such that he knew he 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



33 



slioiild be laughed at. He took out the 
tracts from the box ; and, as he expressed 
himself to the writer, sat for some time in 
his cabin with them in his hand or before 
him, and regularly debated with himself 
the duty of circulating them openly, and 
by his own means, through the ship. He 
looked at the ridicule of which he would 
be the subject, and then at the obligation 
under which he was laid to use every 
means within his reach, and at the hazard 
of all consequences, for the salvation of 
men ; and the latter prevailing above the 
former, he appeared with the tracts in his 
hand on deck. He succeeded. His fear 
was overcome ; and he was enabled not 
only to give away the word of life, but, in 
the giviiig,to recommend it. Among others 
whom he addressed was a military officer, 
whom he found standing alone in some 
part of the ship. The word was power- 
ful. This gentleman's heart was penetra- 
ted ; and he still lives a monument to the 
glory of God, and a proof of the devoted- 
ness and disinterestedness of Captain Page. 
What a reward for self-denial ! 

It was not, however, till some time after- 
wards that he knew that his efforts had, 



34 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



in this instance, been crowned with suc- 
cess. He met this officer again, and the 
reader may, perhaps, imagine what was 
Captain Page's surprise and joy, when he 
found him not only bearing the character 
of a decidedly pious man, but was himself 
greeted as the iiappy instrument of his con- 
version to God. It is needless to say, that 
they became knit to each other as brothers. 
And it is no wonder that we find thii^ 
officer significantly saying, shortly after- 
wards, to an irreligious friend, to whom he 
sent a note of introduction by Captain Page : 
" As I am aware of the attention you have 
ever felt disposed to pay to strangers, and 
as you have an opportunity of being of 
service to my friend Captain Page, of the 
Bengal army, who purposes visiting your 
station, I have given him this note ; and 
will count it as a particular favour done to 
me, if you will be kind enough to assist 
him with your advice. I ask this on my 
account, in the first instance ; but this I 
feel assured of, that you will be inchned 
the more to do so, if you come to know 
him as well as I do.^ 

It is not easy to conceive the thrill of 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



35 



sacred pleasure which these individuals 
must have mutually felt, when, on their 
meeting some time afterwards, the one 
found he was in the company of his kind- 
est and best benefactor, and the other dis- 
covered, for the first time, that he had been 
made the honoured instrument of success- 
fully directing the steps of a brother officer 
into the road that leads to eternal life. If 
there be a pure pleasure on earth^ — one 
without ahoy — one which can bear the 
strictest scrutiny, while at the same time, 
it is of the most exalted character, it is 
surely that which is derived from such a 
source as this. May I not add, that so in- 
calculably important is the object obtained, 
that every one who knows the value of an 
immortal spirit, will consider it the highest 
honour to be in any measure instrumental 
in directing a fellow pilgrim to the only 
refuge from the storm and the tempest — 
to that which alone can give him peace at 
the second coming of the Lord. 

When he visited Calcutta, on his way 
to the Cape, in very bad health, he was in- 
troduced to the Rev. W. H. Pearce, one 
of the Baptist Missionaries, in that city, 
and the following is the description he 



36 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



gives of his character^ and of his intercourse 
with him : — 

The first interview I enjoyed with the 
subject of your intended memoir, I still 
recollect with interest and pleasure. It 
took place at the house of a missionary 
associate in Calcutta, about twelve years 
ago. Captain Page was then suffering 
very severely under an attack of what was 
supposed to be the liver complaint ; to 
alleviate the distressing pain attending 
which, I recollect he was sitting with his 
feet in the chair, so as to allow his thigh 
to press against his side. Amidst his suf- 
ferings, however, his animation and piety 
were very conspicuous. When I entered 
the room, he had just commenced that 
beautiful composition, entitled " The God 
of Abraham,^^ and was repeating, with 
deep solemnity of voice and manner, the 
first verse. 

The God of Abraham praise, 

Who reigns enthroned above; 
Ancient of everlasting days, 

And God of love ; 
Jehovah, great I Am I 

By earth and heaven confess'd; 
I bow, and bless the sacred name. 

For ever blest. 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



37 



His countenance then brightened, and 
his voice became more elevated, as he 
proceeded in the next verse to express his 
feelings of piety and self dedication to God, 
his Creator and Redeemer. 

The God of Abraham praise, 

At whose supreme command, 
From earth I'd rise, and seek the joys 

At his right hand: 
I *d all on earth forsake, 

Its wisdom, fame, and power; 
And him my onli/ portion make, 

My shield and tower. 

And his whole soul seemed transported 
with delight as he proceeded to describe, 
in the last verse, the glorious prospects, 
both as to time and eternity, which lay 
before him. 

The God of Abraham praise, 

Whose ail-sufficient grace 
Shall guide me all my happy days, 

In all his ways. 
He by himself hath sworn, 

I on his oath depend; 
t shall, on eagles' wings upborne, 

To heaven ascend; 
I shall behold his face, 

I shall his power adore, 
And sing the wonders oi^his grace 

For evermore. 

4 



38 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



The repetition of the hymn was followed 
by a deUghtful and animated conversation, 
in which Captain Page took the lead, on 
the present privileges and future prospects 
of the people of God. How happy it was 
to suffer affliction, when it might, as in 
his case, he humbly hoped, be viewed as 
the chastisement of a father; how much 
better thus to suffer it with the blessed 
assurance he felt, that to him " to live was 
Christ, and to die was gain,^^ than to 
enjoy health and worldly prosperity, at- 
tended with the inward conviction, that 
THIS WAS ALL ! Ncvcr did I feel more 
strikingly, how truly pitiable is the case 
of those who are " without hope,^^ because 
without God in the world nor how 
emphatically happy is the man, who, pla- 
cing " the Lord always before him,'^ and 
conscious of a desire to live to his glory, 
fears not death nor eternity ; enjoys in all 
his sorrows, as well as pleasures, the 
assurance of God's paternal care ; and 
anticipates, with joy unspeakable, the 
period when he shall be admitted to his 
presence and favour for ever. Such was 
the state of mind at this time, I am per- 
suaded, of our' late friend; and happy 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



39 



will it be for your readers, if such be ha- 
bitually theirs. 

Since this period, I have had but very 
few and transient opportunities of mter- 
course with Captain Page. Had it been 
otherwise, you were too long and too in- 
timately acquainted with his character, to 
need from me any assistance in delineating 
its more prominent features. I may re- 
mark, however, that there was particularly 
exhibited in him that which ought to be 
evident in every Christian — a dignified 
consciousness of the truth and importance 
of his views of Divine truth, and a manly 
avowal of his attachment to them before 
even a scoffing world. A Christian, who 
acts with reference to eternity, amidst those 
whose views are limited to advantages in 
this hfe only, is placed in some such cir- 
cumstances as a European philosopher 
would be among the literati of China. 
Puffed up with a vain conceit of their 
superior knowledge, and with the sanction 
of antiquity and general consent in favour 
of their views, the latter would naturally 
despise the philosopher himself, and pro- 
bably ridicule as singular, whimsical, and 
absurd, the most correct opinions, with 



40 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



regard to natural science, he might assert 
in their hearing. But would this surprise 
the philosopher ? Would it make him 
hesitate as to the truth of his principles, 
or ashamed of their avowal ? Surely not. 
Satisfied that if those who despised him 
searched for truth with the more powerful 
aids to its investigation which he had en- 
joyed, they would arrive at the same con- 
clusion ; or if they did not, that, in pro- 
cess of time, truth, which must eventu- 
ally prevail, would vindicate itself; he 
would patiently bear their contempt, 
calmly avow the accuracy of his asser- 
tions, and, with a dignified composure, 
anticipate the period when his sentiments 
would be indisputably established. And 
ought Christians, when associated with 
those who, having all " their portion in 
this life,'' think themselves wise in giving 
it their supreme attention, and . who feel 
their views sanctioned by immemorial 
usage, and by the conduct of the great 
majority of mankind, to wonder if both 
they and their sentiments meet with ridi- 
cule and contempt ? Should not Christians 
recollect that blessed Agent, the Holy Spirit, 
and that powerful instrument, the sacred 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



43 



affect the animal spirits. Bat still he rest- 
ed his hopes upon the Saviour, and trusted 
to be accepted at last. 

Mr. Leslie adds : — At this time, he read 
the Bible every day, and took pleasure in 
approaching the throne of grace. Deep 
was his conviction of the unsatisfactory 
nature of every thing upon earth, and of 
the folly of men in pursuing it as the chief 
good. This was a subject with which he- 
had long had his mind much impressed ; 
and it was a theme on which he often 
spoke. He himself had tried the world, 
and found it delusive. The hopes of the 
gospel alone produced peace in his mind ; 
and he believed that no man could be at 
rest without them. 

By his friend, J. W. Templar, Esq., he 
was greeted with a hearty welcome ; but 
Mr. Templar being necessitated shortly 
after, to leave Patna, Captain Page remov- 
ed to the house of another friend, Captain 
P. Jeremie, where he was rendered as 
happy as a man in his circumstances could 
be. The conversation of Captain Jeremie, 
with the society and piety of Miss G. Jere- 
mie, proved to him a source of the highest 



44 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



pleasure. He felt at home. He seemed 
never to have been more deUghted. And 
their kindness afforded him an almost per- 
petual subject of conversation afterwards. 

Evidently becoming worse, and appa- 
rently not having long to live, he was, after 
a fortnight's residence with Captain Jere- 
mie, gently advised, if he wished to see his 
family again, to repair home. The intelli- 
gence did not in the least dismay him. He 
instantly set off; and the first house he 
reached was that of the writer. Imme- 
diately on seeing m.e, he said, " Well, Les- 
he, I have returned to die.'' The idea 
being a painful one, and willing to hope 
that he might be mistaken-, I instantly 
changed the subject ; and he talked freely 
on what was introduced. He seemed no 
more alarmed, than if he had been told 
that he was merely to take a short journey. 
As it was evening when he arrived, and 
his house at some distance from mine, he 
remained with me during the whole of 
that and the following night, with the 
intervening day. Indeed, he seemed too 
ill to be removed. His sickness increased 
to such a degree, that he was quite incapa- 
ble of walking across the room without 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 41 

Scriptures, by which their views were 
enlarged ; and conscious that if favoured 
with these aids to correct vision, those 
who despise them will see as they do; 
and that, if not so happy, the day of death 
and of judgment will, in the case of the 
most incredulous, stamp the seal of eternal 
truth on their sentiments, ought they not, 
with holy calmness and elevated satisfac- 
tion, to sustain the ridicule or contempt 
they may meet with ? Yea, rather, satis- 
fied of the vast importance of the truths 
they have embraced, to the everlasting 
happiness of those who despise them, 
should they not delight to avow and vin- 
dicate them ! Thus did Captain Page. 
Often would he, in the most happy man- 
ner, introduce religion into conversation ; 
and never did he fail to defend it when at- 
tacked : and, as the happy consequence, 
many a youth, almost led away by the in- 
fidelity and folly he found too frequently 
exhibited around him, has been restored 
to correct sentiments and holy conduct: 
while, in other cases, ignorant but bold 
infidelity has been abashed, and sincere 
but timid piety greatly encouraged. Does 
he not, in this respect, then, set before 
4* 



42 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



all the professors of religion, an example 
of what is both their duty and their pri- 
vilege ? 

While Captain Page wished to visit the 
Cape, he could proceed no farther than the 
Isle of France, the vessel having touched 
there on its way. After remaining there 
for some time, he returned to Calcutta, and 
thence to Monghyr, where he so far re- 
covered as to be able to resume for a sea- 
son his public duties. During this period 
of relief, he determined on removing for a 
few months to Patna, to the house of his 
very intimate friend, J. W. Templar, Esq. 
As none of his family could accompany 
him, Mr. Leslie informs us, that it fell to 
his lot to be his companion. He appeared 
to revive a little on the voyage. His con- 
versation was highly interesting. He went 
over much of his life, and particularly that 
part of it in which he was ignorant of re- 
ligion — a period of which he spoke with 
grief. It appears that his hopes, in refer- 
ence to his prospect for eternity, were not 
so animated as could be wished. This 
might arise from the nature of his disease, 
as it is well known how particular diseases 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



45 



help. He felt quite certain that he was 
dying ; and was very earnest in pressing 
home upon myself and others his last in- 
junctions. 

August 20th. — He was removed with 
difficulty to his own house. He seemed, 
however, after being placed once more in 
the midst of his family, to recover. But 
his restoration was very temporary. On 
the 24th, he became exceedingly ill ; and, 
thinking that he had come to the last day 
of his Ufe, he calmly settled, with the help 
of Captain Tanner, all his worldly con- 
cerns ; and then desiring his family to be 
called, one by one, and his most intimate 
religious friends to be sent for, most com- 
posedly told. them he was dying, and most 
affectionately bade them farewell. It was 
truly touching, to hear him exhorting Mrs. 
Page and his children to put their trust in 
God. All he said was uttered in short 
sentences ; and in a very few at a time. It 
was the same with his prayers. As had 
been the case from the first, he betrayed no 
fear of dying. He had long familiarized 
his mind with the subject. And though 
his confessions of sin were deep and hu- 
miliating, and though he was fully aware 



46 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



of the, solemnity of eternity, upon which he 
was entering, and though he saw all weep- 
ing around him, he was quite composed. 
He had no transports ; but he had a settled 
peace, arising from a believing view of the 
atonement of Jesus Christ. Often did he 
declare, that the cross was all his hope. 

He was mistaken in supposing that his 
end was so near. He was destined to live 
through another week. Till the 26th he 
was quite sensible ; and spent a great part 
of the time in talking to his family and 
friends, and in ejaculatory prayer to God. 
The sum of what he said was, the import- 
ance of religion, the necessity for his family 
confiding in God, his own great sinfulness, 
and his hopes of salvation through the 
death of the Divine Mediator. He never 
once intimated a wish to live, nor ever ex- 
pressed himself otherwise than as confident 
that he was about to die. Indeed, the 
thought of death seemed to give him plea- 
sure; for on Mrs. Page wiping his face, he 
exclaimed," Now is God about to wipe all 
tears from my eyes.'^ 

On the evening of the 26th, he began to 
wander in mind, and never more than for 
a few minutes at a time recovered the pro- 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 47 



per use of his mental powers. He spoke 
a great deal, but little that was coherent. 
Much, however, that he did say was truly- 
Christian, and showed on what subjects 
his mind felt most interested. On the 30th 
he seemed to suffer great pain, spending 
the whole day in the most agonizing cries. 
During the evening he obtained relief ; and 
continued to He till nearly one o'clock the 
following day, August 31, 1829, in a doz- 
ing state, when, by a sudden casting back 
of his hands, which were then folded, and 
the utterance of a heavy groan, he gave 
signs that he had rendered up his spirit to 
God his Maker. " Blessed are the dead 
which die in the Lord from henceforth : 
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
from their labours; and their works do 
follow them.'^ He was aged forty-five 
years. 

I conclude the account of this truly es- 
timable Christian officer, with the descrip- 
tion of his character from the pen of Mr. 
Vansomeren, one of his beloved friends, 
under whose roof he spent some time at 
Madras, on his return from the Isle of 
France. 



48 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



^" I first became acquainted with the late 
Captain Page in the year 1817, when he 
came to Madras on his way to the Cape 
for the benefit of his health, which was 
even then in a very indifferent state. At 
that time, the excellent missionaries Love- 
less, Knill, Gordon, Hands, and Mead, of 
the London Society, were here, and I 
think it was through the introduction of 
one of them that I became acquainted with 
him, and in the course of time our acquaint- 
ance ripened into intimacy. It was im- 
possible for any Christian to know Captain 
Page, even for a short time, and not feel 
delighted with his society. I was almost 
every evening with him, and I seldom 
found him by himself, for some Christian 
friend or other would visit him constantly. 
I found him to be a man under the deepest 
impression of genuine religion ; and as his 
treasure was in heaven, it was evident that 
his heart was there also. Although he 
possessed a rich store of historical infor- 
mation, and seemed to be one who could 
speak on public affairs, he scarcely ever 
talked on these subjects without bringing 
them to bear, in some way or other, on 
the Christian character, the providence of 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 49 

God, or the development of prophecy. 
With the Bible he was very conversant, 
and it lay before him whenever I called to 
see him ; he used often to refer to it, and 
read passages in support or illustration of 
the various subjects we used to touch upon 
in religious conversation ; and he had so 
interesting and solemn a way of speaking 
on serious subjects, that it scarcely ever 
failed to produce the most delightful feel- 
ings, and to excite to spiritual mindedness. 
We seldom parted without prayer, and 
when the before mentioned missionary 
friends were with us, (and one or more of 
them used to call frequently,) the mental 
feast and spiritual enjoyment we experi- 
enced w^ere indeed rich. Captain Page, 
while at Madras, scarcely ever spoke to a 
person long without taking a suitable op- 
portunity of introducing some question or 
conversation respecting eternity. To his 
medical adviser he used to put some very 
serious questions about his eternal inter- 
ests, and told me with regret that he feared 
all was in vain. Above the fear of man, 
and not ashamed of Jesus, he never, to 
my knowledge, shrunk from the most open 
profession of attachment to his cause. He 
5 



50 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



publicly addressed, more than once, several 
soldiers and Indo-Britons, who used, at 
that time, to meet in a private house in the 
Black Town, once a Vv^eek for religious 
exercises ; and his condescension to them 
all, whenever he met them, was in accord- 
ance with all the other amiable and esti- 
mable traits of his character. Humility 
and modesty were most conspicuous in 
him. Though no stranger to the joy and 
peace arising from spiritual mindedness 
and communion with God, he not unfre- 
quently experienced the plague of his own 
heart, and used to complain to me of bar- 
renness, earthly mindedness, and hardness 
of heart, with groans and tears ; adding, 
that all he could do was to weep, for he 
could not pray. Possessed of an excellent 
memory, he often used to delight and 
edify his visitors by repeatingj on suitable 
occasions, passages of choice speeches of 
eminent statesmen, portions of select po- 
etry, and other gems of literature, with a 
pathos that was peculiar to himself, and 
tending to excite the best feelings of the 
heart. He was a man that seemed to 
have read much ; for I scarcely ever heard 
a book alluded to by those who conversed 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 51 

with him, but which he seemed to be fa- 
mihar with ; and he would speak about it 
as if he had read it very recently. Texts 
of Scripture on which he used to hear ser- 
mons at Madras about twelve years ago, 
he brought to my recollection last year, 
with the heads of the discourses, and the 
most striking remarks made thereon by 
the preachers. 

In July, 1828, he visited Madras for the 
second time, and lived at my house for 
about a fortnight. I found him the same 
man that he was in 1817, in every respect, 
excepting that his complicated diseases 
had reduced him much, and altogether 
altered his personal appearance for the 
worse. He knew he had not long to live ; 
but he spoke of his departure with a 
calmness and serenity that none could 
evince, but those whose hopes and expec- 
tations are built on the Rock of ages, and 
have their foundation in the pure and holy 
principles and promises of the gospel of 
Jesus Christ.''^ 

I cannot dismiss this article without 
making one remark, and it is founded on 
that which appears to have been the first 



52 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



means of impressing Captain Page's mind 
witli the importance of true religion. Tiiis 
was witnessing the calmness and compo- 
sure with which a Christian female con- 
templated the approach of death. It led 
him to reflect, "Here is a person influenced 
by principles which must be of peculiar 
value, as they are fitted to give such peace 
in this hour of trial.'' We have seen the 
blessed eff'ect that followed. 

It is not uncommon for pious people to 
suppose, that when no longer able by dis- 
ease to engage in the discharge of active 
duty, especially if confined to the bed of 
sickness, their usefulness in the world is 
gone. This I have seen a source of much 
des^pondency. But let the case before us 
show the unreasonableness of such a sup- 
position. Here a Christian, in the cham- 
ber of sickness, while silently sufi'ering, 
with patience, the will of God, is found, 
unknown to herself, producing effects of 
inestimable value on the mind of one of 
her visitors. Let this furnish encourage- 
ment to the afflicted disciples of Christ. 
Let them study in the season of distress, 
and when rendered incapable of active 
service, by patient suff'ering, to make their 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 



53 



light so to shine before men, that they 
may be led to glorify our Father who is in 
heaven. 

Indeed, we are too apt to confine our 
ideas of usefulness to individual acts, and 
to lose sight of the powerful effect pro- 
duced by the whole tenor of our temper, 
conversation, and conduct, silently and 
continually operating on those around us. 
This kind of operation is plainly referred 
to in the instruction given to the Jews, 
regarding the education of their children, 
Deut. vi. 6, 7 : " And these words, which 
I command thee this day, shall be in thine 
heart : and thou shalt teach them diligently 
unto thy children, and shalt talk of them 
when thou sittest in thine house, and 
when thou walkest by the way, and when 
thou liest down, and when thou risest up.'' 
We have here, in addition to direct instruc- 
tion, an injunction regarding the import- 
ance of uniform and habitual impression. 
Such is the effect of this, that we may 
perhaps safely say, there is no professing 
Christian who is not constantly in this 
way, doing either good or harm. If he is 
exhibiting the amiable spirit of the gospel 
in his social intercourse, he is impercepti- 
5* 



54 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



bly recommending his principles, and gra- 
dually undermining the prejudices of those 
who may have entertained prejudices 
against them. On the other hand, by an 
opposite conduct, he is continually doing 
harm, presenting a false view of his prin- 
ciples, either creating such prejudices, or 
giving them, if they previously existed, 
additional strength. 

I have heard of a gentleman who was 
sufficiently hostile to the name of metho- 
dist, but whose brother had embraced 
those principles which brought him under 
this, as he thought, odious and contempti- 
ble appellation. In paying a visit to this 
brother, he was determined to steel him- 
self against any impression he might en- 
deavour to produce upon him. After 
spending some tim^e with him, what was 
his remark on his return? Though his 
brother had not spoken to him a word di- 
rectly about religion, probably knowing 
his prejudices on that subject, he told his 
friends that he was convinced, after all, 
his brother was right ; every thing about 
his conduct and his family was so much 
in keeping, so much as it ought to be, that 
he was sure he was a much happier man 



LATE CAPTAIN PAGE. 55 

than himself. It is impossible to calculate 
the beneficial elfects that would arise, if 
every professing Christian were habitually 
to manifest similar consistency. Let every 
one recollect his own responsibility here ; 
and that, for the fidelity with which he 
has exhibited the Christian character, he 
must at last give an account of himself to 
God. 



CAPTAIN GORDON. 



EXTRACTS OF LETTERS FROM CAPTAIN 
JOHN GORDON, OF THE SnD, OR QUEEN's 
REGIMENT OF FOOT, WHO DIED AT BAR- 
BADOES, DECEMBER 22, 1816. 

The extent of the change produced by 
the influence of the gospel, on this inter- 
esting, young officer, can only be under- 
stood by those who were acquainted with 
him in his former days. I had that plea- 
sure, having known him from his child- 
hood. He was indeed, in his early days, 
the gayest of the gay. Handsome in face 
and figure, with a great flow of animal 
spirits, from his earliest years he was a 
general favourite in the fashionable amuse- 
ments of the age ; and it is not easy to 
conceive a more complete transformation 
of character than that which took place, 
when the gay, the thoughtless, and fashion- 
able Captain Gordon became an humble 
disciple of Jesus Christ. 

It will be seen from the following ex- 
56 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 57 

tracts, that the amiable exhibition of true 
religion, in the character of a consistent 
Christian lady, was, in a great measure, 
made instrumental in removing the preju- 
dices he had formerly entertained against 
it. This should be considered as speaking 
volumes to every one, whatever his situa- 
tion in life may be, who professes to be a 
follower of Jesus Christ. How often are 
powerful prejudices excited, especially in 
the youthful mind, by something repulsive 
in the manners of those who assume this 
character ! It is true, such prejudices may 
often be extremely unreasonable ; but who 
would not tremble at the thought of being 
the instrument of awakening or strength- 
ening them? On the other hand, how 
highly gratifying must it be to every 
Christian, if he can, in any measure, be 
the means of removing such prejudices by 
the faithful exhibition of the Christian 
character ! 

The following letter to a near relative, 
gives an account of the circumstances at- 
tending his change of sentiments : — 

Believe me, whatever fears you enter- 
tain upon the spiritual change that has oc- 



58 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



curred in me, they fall very far short of 
my own ; and if I have prayed more ear- 
nestly for one mercy than another, it is, 
that, through the grace of God, I may be 
enabled to remain steadfast to the end. I 
feel that I am no hypocrite upon the occa- 
sion ; and I am conscious that you will do 
me the justice to believe, that I am above 
that, and I therefore can only say, that I 
trust there is no deception. You and I 
have a similar conception in our minds, 
with regard to the difference of those two 
terms, I make little doubt. I have felt a 
desire to address you upon this occasion, 
because I know your anxiety, and it is a 
subject on which it is perhaps easier to 
write than to speak. Do not imagine that 
I have any thing striking or sudden to 
communicate, such as in the life of Colonel 
Gardiner, or Mr. Newton, but, in a few 
words, I think I can trace the progress. In 
the month of October, in the first week of 
it, I went to London, to see the secretary 
of the commander in chief about promo- 
tion, and industriously kept away from my 
friend , merely because she was turn- 
ed religious, and that I knew there were 
prayers in her house : however, I thought 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 



59 



it would be ungrateful not to call once be- 
fore I left town. I went, and I found that 
although quite a new woman, she was 
agreeable, and far more happy than ever. 
I had much conversation with her upon 
that head, and was more pleased with her 
society than I could ever recollect being 
before. I remained three days, during 
which time there was a very pious clergy- 
man in the house, Mr. S., of Paul's Cray, 

whom I had known to be useful to 

during her distress. I had an opportunity 

of hearing all he said to during this 

period. At parting, begged of me to 

read the Bible, and to endeavour to pray. 
She asked me if I would promise to read 
two or three books which she would give 
me. I said," most cheerfully for I was 
convinced that she had got real hold of 
some far more substantial comfort than I 
had, and appeared to be quite free from 
the bondage of the world. The books 
were, " The Life of Mr. Scott,'' " Jones's 
Scripture Directory," and two pamphlets 
by military men, General Burn and Cap- 
tain Maitland. I joined my regiment at 
Gosport on the 10th, and I read my Bible 
occasionally, and said the Lord's prayer 5 



60 AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



and if I prayed for any thing it was gene- 
rally for something temporal, and I found 
I was very well satisfied with myself. One 
day, I walked with the paymaster, and 
purposely introduced religious conversa- 
tion. I was glad when I found that he 
did not turn from the subject, and we con- 
versed several hours. Another night, he 
came to my room in the evening, and I 
read that chapter in Luke about Lazarus 
and the rich man, with what Jones said 
upon it in his " Scripture Directory.'^ How- 
ever, as I saw he did not appear to take 
the same interest in it that I did, I attribu- 
ted it to his want of education ; and I re- 
member I felt thankful that the theory at 
least of rehgion appeared to be more in 
myself. At this particular period another 
subject was so constantly in my mind that 
I thought perhaps less upon what I had 
heard in London than I would otherwise 
have done. I now began to look forward 
to my journey to Scotland; and in order 
that I might pass one Lord's day with 
, I left the regiment earlier than I in- 
tended. Upon Friday, the 11th of Novem- 
ber, I told her the reason of my coming, 
and she smiled. On Sunday, we went to 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 61 

Percy Chapel, and heard a Mr. S. It was 
a very strikmg sermon, upon the death of 
a young woman who had been called by 
grace in a strong degree, and had died in 
a most happy condition. In the afternoon, 
we went to St. Bartholomew's Church, 
and I heard Mr. W. preach from these 
words : He that receiveth you receiveth 
me, and he that receiveth me receiveth 
him that sent me,^^ Matt. x. 40. I never 
heafd doctrine laid down so plainly and 
fully, and with such warm affection. I 
was convinced that it was this, and this 
/ only, that could have wrought such a won- 
derful change in my dear friend ; and 

I kept thinking what would I give to find 
such a change in myself ; for I felt I was 
far from happy. I have said to myself, " I 

have known in her gay days, but she 

never was cheerful or happy till now I 
was besides an eye-witness to the good 
she did among the poor. Going home 
from church, I expressed how much I was 
gratified with the sermon, and expressed 
a wish to be a partaker of the Lord's sup- 
per ; that the sermon had excited this wish : 
and I was informed, if I waited till next 
Sunday, I should have an opportunity. I 
6 



62 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



determined to pass the time accordingly in 
reading, thought, and prayer. On Tues- 
day, I went to Haberdashers' Almshouses, 
and heard the same good pious man preach 
(Mr. W.) from 1 Pet. i. 1,2. The church 
was crowded, and we met there Mr. S., 
who introduced me to Mr. W. after the 
sermon. I then told Mr. S. of my wish 
and strong desire to communicate ; and he 
said he would have some conversation 
with me, which was what I most wanted. 
He went home to Portland Place with us, 
and it was then determined to go to Cam- 
bridge to the Bible Society. In the car- 
riage there was much serious exhortation 
and conversation, and Mr. S. expounded 
several texts of Scripture. All this period 
my attention was riveted, and I found far 
more delight than I had ever experienced 
before. In the evening of the day we 
went to Cambridge, to Mr. S.'s church, 
and his curate preached from these words : 
" For to be carnally minded is death ; but 
to be spiritually minded is life and peace/^ 
Rom. viii. 6. After church I went to Mr. 
F.'s; where Mr. S. expounded the Scrip- 
ture, I think in Hebrews, at great length. 
I remember that, what with conversation, 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 



63 



the journey, the sermon, and Mr. S/s ex- 
pounding, I was more worn out than I can 
express. Next day we went to the Town 
Hall, where the meeting was ; the speak- 
ers were, Mr. Simeon, Mr. Professor 
Farish, and, above all, Mr. Owen. His 
matchless eloquence in favour of spread- 
ing far the glad tidings of the gospel, 
brought me almost to tears, and my situa- 
tion was very unpleasant in consequence ; 
but when he enlarged upon the good effect 
the Bible had had upon two or three 
soldiers, taken prisoners after the battle of 
Talavera,* it was too much for me. After 
the meeting I dined with Mr. Simeon. 
Mr. Owen was there with a large party. I 
remember saying, and thinking with my- 
self, " Had I first come to Cambridge with 
my present feelings, it might have been 
well for me.'^ On Friday we returned to 
town, and all this period till Saturday 
night, Mr. S. was much engaged with me. 
On Sunday, after having got up early, I 
read, with much attention, the Commu- 
nion, as it is in the Church of England, and 
afterwards went to Percy Chapel, and 

* Captain Gordon was engaged in the battle of 
Talavera. 



64 AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



along with partook of the sacrament 

for the first time. Since then I have felt a 
change in myself, and see the necessity of 
a radical change, and this altogether arises 
from the beUef I now have. I can say no 
more. It is not that I have laid down' 
methodical rules for my guidance, but I 
can only say, I find that belief has caused 
me to think and act as I now do ; and let 
my future conduct prove what this be- 
lief is. 

His sense of the difficulties he would 
have to encounter, he thus expresses to 
another friend : — 

Were I to tell you all I have suffered in 
consequence, and the great dangers and 
difficulties I cannot help looking forward 
to — for my profession is the most unfavour- 
able that can be to reUgious impression, 
if you consider that religion is a plant of 
slow growth, and even when it has taken 
root how apt to be blasted— you would 
sympathize Vv^th my distress on this head. 
At the same time it is wrong to anticipate 
evil ; and nothing can be a stronger proof 
of my want of faith. Oh that I could man- 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 65 

fully cast all my cares on Him, who careth 
for those who fully confide in him, and re- 
member that if I confess him before men, 
he will confess me before his Father's 
angels ! but the fears I have of falling off, 
and the difficulties I have to encounter in 
order to meet my own approbation, make 
me feel very uneasy. I have already been 
more m the mouths of the world than 
under any circumstances is pleasant. But 
I put my trust in Him who brought me to 
a knowledge of the truth, and who will 
not suffer any to be plucked out of his 
hand. 

From another letter we give the follow- 
ing extract : — 

My change of sentiments has caused a 
sensation here, and there is a work going 
on ; beside those I have mentioned, four 
others have come to me, and said that they 
are rejoiced to find a man who dare avow 
such principles : that they have entertained 
them, but had been afraid to avow them. 
I have great hopes of the assistant surgeon, 
who was in his youth a hearer of Mr. 0., 
at Fulham. I see I shall be a rallying 
6 * 



66 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



point for those who are disposed to take 
up the cross. Do not suppose, however, 
that things are to go on thus smoothly ; 
others say, if this kind of thing is not stop- 
ped, it will do much harm ; and I know 
there is much more talk than I hear. I 
called on Mr. Bogue the day after I heard 
him, and sat some time with him. Lady 
G. gave me two Bibles, which I gave to my 
own company ; and on Sunday my serjeant 
told me that five of my soldiers heard Mr. 
B. in the evening. 

Last Sunday week, I went to church, 
and, in the full dress of the queen^s royal 
^ regiment, communicated at the Lord's 
table. The day was when I would have 
shrunk back and been ashamed ; I now 
consider it the most esteemed privilege. 

I had yesterday a letter from a clergy- 
man in Norfolk, who is full of joy on ac- 
count of the change of sentiments I had 
excited in his brother. Lieutenant G., who 
has begun to read his Bible, accompanied 
with prayer. My rank and standing in 
the regiment prevent many from speaking 
boldly out ; they know, in point of educa- 
tion and society, I had rather the advan- 
tage of them before, and now they are 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 67 

quite lost what to think. I have read 
through M'Leaii on the Epistle to the 
Hebrews, and much real information have 
I derived from the work. I sometimes 

think of writing to . We used to be 

on good terms ; but if a word could be 

dropped in season I should rejoice. 

little knows the wide spread Christianity 
is making in the high ranks of life ; there 

are people, far, far above in rank, 

fortune-, and fashion, who consider every 
thing as dung and dross, compared to the 
knowledge of the excellence of Christ. I 

remember used to talk to me about 

going to church, and being converted, and 
I do think I might begin with him now. I 
never make rehgion the subject at the mess. 
We have forty-two officers at head quar- 
ters ; thirty sit down to dinner. There is 
no drinking, nor giving of toasts ; but were 
I to pretend to check every oath that is 
uttered, ! should never have rest; there- 
fore I do not. In private I speak freely to 
every man of them. When I reflect upon 
my own ways in this respect, and particu- 
larly how I lost my temper, and vented it 
upon the soldiers, if any thing went wrong 
in the field, it seems to me a miracle, nor 



68 



AX ACCOUNT OF THE 



can I conceive a greater. Since October I 
have never made use of more than yea or 
nay ; formerly it was very diflerent. This 
is not my doing ; I never made any deter- 
mination. The blood of Christ cleanseth 
from all sin. 

In another letter he writes thus : — 

I was determined to forbear writing to 
you, until it pleased God that I should 
have it in my power to relate something 
worthy of being communicated, on the 
score of that cause in which I am embark- 
ed, and for the wide spread of which I ear- 
nestly pray. May the time come when 
the word of God shall not return to him 
void, but cover the face of the earth as the 
^vatersdo the sea ! You have heard how 
my time w^as passed in London. I ever 
considered that all I heard, both there and in 
Edinburgh, was but preparing me for the 
scene of action here. I felt a good deal 
discomposed as the time approached when 
I must again mingle with those gay, 
thoughtless companions in this regiment, 
with whom I had passed nine years of my 
Ufe wickedly and unprofitably ; and was 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 



69 



determined that, both for the honour of 
that God whom I serve, and for that 
Saviour whose cross I trust I bear, and 
wiUingly too, for bear it I must, I should 
by every means make reparation to those 
whom I had formerly been the means of, 
perhaps, misleading. Many have been the 
anxious and earnest prayers I have sent up 
for myself, that I might be enabled to 
stand firm, and be the instrument of bring- 
ing to the knowledge of the truth some 
who were far from it. I had made known 
my sentiments to the commanding officer 
as far back as December last ; and the day 
after 1 had a conversation with him, I sent 
him General Burn^s " Christian Armour,'^ 
and the report of the Bible Society, that 
he might see the Duke of York patronized 
such things, and by this means hedge my- 
self round with military precedent of the 
highest order. To the surgeon of the regi- 
ment I gave Scott's Force of Truth to 
the other officers, dilierent books ; and I 
think I have given away about two or 
three hundred tracts among the soldiers, 

which supplies me with ; but all this 

I consider as auxiliary to the many con- 
versations I have weekly, daily, and I may 



70 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



say hourly, with many of the regiment. 
You would be surprised to see what is 
going on. I have found two officers, Mr. 
G. and Mr. A., who appear to have felt the 
influence of the Holy Spirit ; but, afraid to 
make it known, they allow it to remain 
dormant. I cannot describe the joy they 
feel at meeting in me, (who stand high in 
other respects in the regiment,) a person 
with whom they can at all times talk on 
such a subject. A young man has been 
impressed with the most serious views of 
these things, and has written to his brother, 
a pious young clergyman in Norfolk, in a 
way that convinces me there is som^hing 
working in him : his brother wrote to me 
on the occasion. Mr. R., the assistant sur- 
geon, passes much of his time with me; and I 
know that he passes much time in secret 
prayer and reading the Bible. He was in 
London lately, and I gave him a letter to 

Mrs. , with whom he was delighted. 

He camo to me the other day, grasped me 
by the hand, and said, he did not know 

how it was, but, either through Mrs. 

or me, he was quite another man. 

Referring to a visit he had received from 
a brother, he thus writes : — 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 71 

He is looking remarkably well : he dined 
at our mess, where they were deUghted 
with him, and said he looked like what I 
used to be ; but that care and prayer were 
fast undermining my total appearance, and 
if I went on with my methodism, they did 
not know where it would end. I trust I 
know where it will end; they little know 
how internally happy I am now, compared 
to what I used to be. Yet let me not talk 
of all in this way. My firmness, example^ 
and conversation appear to be much bless- 
ed by the Lord. A¥ould you imagine it^ 
that since I joined I have gained over from 
five to six young officers to serious read- 
ing, earnest prayer, and attendance on the 
preaching of the word ? They really ap- 
pear to be gradually influenced by the 
Holy Spirit. From seven to eight go to 
hear Mr. Bogue, on a Thursday evening 
as well as on a Sunday, and they are all 
delighted with him ; last night there were 
two staff-serjeants, and three of the band, 
several privates, and five officers went. I 
know too much to count upon this ; but it 
is pleasant to see it. I have given about 
two hundred tracts among the soldiers and 
in the hospital. You cannot but suppose 



7.2 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



that, after this, there is opposition. Yes ; 
the cry is, " Gordon will ruin the regi- 
ment Wait a httle : I was- ever for- 
ward when the regiment was called upon ; 
and if this corps should be called on, they 
will perhaps see that I will again perform 
my duty in the face of the enemy, with 
composure and courage. 

Indeed, I cannot help thinking, that I 
have been converted myself, to be madeuse- 
ful to others. The ladies in the regiment 
are as forward now to attend Divine ser- 
vice as their husbands. does not say 

much to me ; but I hear every thing from 
others, and he begins to think there must 
be more in it than mere fancy : he is about 
to begin to read his Bible. The mountains 
and difficulties I apprehended begin to dis- 
appear ; for I joined the Queen's with ap- 
prehensions for my own firmness, nor is it 
much diminished yet ; but I cannot help 
experiencing that the Lord has been ex- 
ceedingly gracious to me. 

On another occasion, he thus expresses 
himself: — 

Like most other Christians, I have lately 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 73 

had my trials, and afflictions, and tempta- 
tions ; but I begin, through the strength 
that is in Christ Jesus, to feel more com- 
fortable in my mind : indeed, I have par- 
taken of his fulness and grace, in whom is 
all abundance. It is not to be wondered 
that I have even moments of affliction, for 
I have manv temporal as well as spiritual 
foes to encounter : still I am sure that my 
life is hid with Christ in God ; and when 
He who is my life shall appear, I trust I 
shall also appear in glory with him. In- 
deed, I can lay my hand upon my heart, 
and say that my affections are set upon 
things above ; and I am persuaded that 
neither death nor life shall be able to sepa- 
rate me from the love of God which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. I bless God always 
for the great change that has taken place 
in my sentiments. Surely Lazarus was 
never more naturally dead than I was 
spiritually 5 but when God says, " Let there 
be light there shall be light. Surely the 
work of redemption is greater than that 
of creation. I am quite sensible, my dear 
M., what cause for watchfulness and pray- 
er I have. Well do I know, if I trust in 
my own strength, I must fall ; but I hope, 
7 



74 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



though the change was sudden, it will not 
be the less permanent. I know whom I 
have believed ; and though I cannot keep 
myself, he is both able and willing to keep 
to the last that which is entrusted to him. 
Sometimes I have been made to cry out, 
" wretched man that I am and I suffer 
much in my own mind. I^know Satan 
attacks me on the score of many grievous 
disappointments, and even relations : but 
after a while much sweeter moments than 
I before experienced do not fail to return. 
How wonderfully God has, with the influ- 
ence of his Spirit, blessed my endeavours 
to prove useful to three or four officers ! 
One, in particular, is now far ahead of 
myself in every thing, which rejoices me 
much, although I know there may be envy 
and jealousy in spiritual as well as in tem- 
poral things ; but, my dear M., by grace 
are we saved, " not of works, lest any man 
should boast.^' I do not hold this doctrine 
in a way that might prove injurious ; but 
these doctrines of election, predestination, 
and final perseverance, are to me un- 
answerable and conclusive. At the same 
time, we must use means, and salvation is 
offered unto all men 5 for it is said, Ye 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 75 

will not come to me that ye may have 
life." 

A letter to his mother contains the fol- 
lowing passage : — 

I had, through the favour of God, ano- 
ther opportunity of communicating, and, 
I trust, through his blessing and grace, of 
being strengthened for the many trials that 
await me : of myself I can do nothing, 
but I have already experienced that Christ 
is all in all. Yet I cannot express the 
fears and dread I entertain of falling off: 
no doubt this is planted in me for the best 
and wisest purposes ; but the dread some- 
times overwhelms me. I have such clear 
views as God alone could have given me. 
One thing I must say, that things have 
gone so smoothly hitherto, that some great 
trial must await me. I often reflect oa 
the wonderful manner in which I have 
been drawn ; and now though I under- 
stand how it is so encouraging to keep 
steadfast, yet I cannot of myself, for still 
no one cometh except the Father draw 
him. Certainly love drew me ; and when 
others have been drawn by fear, afflictions, 



76 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



distress, it hath pleased God, of his won- 
drous love, to draw me by love. I never 
could find courage to talk to you, my 
dearest mother, on this subject; but I 
have felt for months past such an internal 
comfort and quiet of mind, such a passing 
away of old things, that I can say I know 
experimentally what it is to be "born 
again yet I do not boast, it is all of free 
sovereign grace ; "for Paul may plant, and 
Apollos water, but it is God that giveth 
the increase.'^ I am indeed in a happy 
state of mind. 

In every thing connected with religion 
I now take a very deep interest. There 
is a great work going on ; and in what- 
ever situation w^e are placed, it becomes 
us who are true believers to be doers as 
well as hearers of the word. The many 
difficulties and unpleasant situations I na- 
turally expected to be placed in upon 
joining m}^ regiment, have all vanished 
through the kind blessing of God. I think 
there are about four or live officers who 
entertain similar sentiments to my own. 

In another letter he says : — 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 71 



The 3^ear is about to close, and a new 
one, please God, about to open upon me. 
This period naturally excites many inter- 
esting reflections to every one, but to none 
more than those who have so lately been 
brought from darkness into marvellous 
light. I trust I have been making pro- 
gress in the growth of grace ; indeed, 
when I look back, I cannot help being 
sensible that my views, as to Divine things, 
are much enlarged ; and this last year has 
been spent in throwing aside the works 
of darkness, and praying to God, through 
the mediation and intercession of Christ 
Jesus, that I may be able to put on the 
armour of light. You, my dearest mother, 
who have known me longest, can better, 
perhaps, than any other, imagine the fight- 
ings within and without that I am ever- 
lastingly exposed to, and how constantly 
variable and fluctuating are my difi'erent 
frames. How justly may the Christian 
life be termed a warfare ! I am sure no- 
thing but Divine grace begun in my heart 
could cause the spirit so to fight against 
the flesh. I have, for a year and more, 
made the Scriptures and rehgious books 
mv constant and daily study ; and from 
7* 



78 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



them, more than sermons, I find what my 
case was and is 5 and if I hold fast to the 
end, the gospel which is preached, what 
shall I be ! This sometimes is more than 
I am well able to hold : that a rebellious, 
sinful creature as I am, should, before the 
foundation of the world, be predestinated, 
be called, justified, sanctified by the blood 
of Jesus, appears to me so wonderful, that 
I cannot be surprised at the natural man 
ridiculing it ; yet, at other times, I despond 
to such a degree, that unbelief almost 
throws me down. This however I know, 
it is all of grace, and not of works ; and 
that we must evince our calling and elec- 
tion by a godly, righteous, sober, and holy 
life, working our dear Lord and Master's 
work while it is day, as the night comes 
when no man can work; and still it is 
God that worketh in us to will and to do 
of his good pleasure. But my experience 
does not keep pace with my knowledge ; 
neither do my dispositions and temper 
bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. 

It is a year since I joined this regiment, 
a very different character, through the 
blessing of God, from what I had been for 
nine years previous ; and on no subject 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 79 

was I more instant in season and out of 
season, more fervent and frequent in my 
prayers, than that some in this regiment 
might be struck with the force of truth ; 
and I am sure my prayers have been an- 
swered; for, besides officers, there are 
several Serjeants, musicians, and soldiers, 
who seem bent upon working out their 
salvation with fear and trembling. Yet I 
am sure the inquiry, " What do ye more 
than others ?" continually haunts me ; for 
throughout Scripture there is much more 
stress laid upon doing than hearing the 
word. 

The regiment being ordered to the West 
Indies, he thus wrote to a sister : — 

As I am about to leave England, for a 
time only I trust, a letter is due to you 
from a brother who dearly loves you all ; 
and his earnest prayers shall constantly be 
uttered for your spiritual welfare ; which 
I can now, through the blessing of God, 
say I put more and more value on daily. 
Yes, my dearest sister, I have found the 
pearl of inestimable value, by a death 
unto sin, and a new birth unto righteous- 



80 AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



ness ; and I know what it is to feed on 
Christ in my heart through faith. And as 

the last favour I ask of you, my dear , 

I beg of 3^ou to read attentively Luke xi., 
and particularly the 13th verse; dwell 
upon it, and may God enable you to pray 
over it in spirit and in truth. I am sure 
he has proved a gracious God to our 
family ; and I pray that, in that last awful 
day, when he makes up his jewels, no 
one of us may be wanting ; for when 
once Divine grace begins in a family, it 
generally leavens the whole lump. I was 
much delighted with the great change in 
our dearest M. and S. May God the 
Holy Spirit fasten conviction in all our 
hearts, as a nail in a sure place, that we 
may never more be polluted with corrup- 
tion. 

Having arrived at Barbadoes, he thus 
wrote home : — 

It was a great satisfaction to me, that in 
the frigate, being senior officer of the 
Queen's, I had such influence over the 
captain of the ship, (an old acquaintance,) 
that every Sunday I had both the ship's 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 81 

company and soldiers assembled, a church 
regularly formed, the bell tolled as at 
home, and every thing carried on with the 
utmost decency and quiet which circumstan- 
ces would admit. Oh ! if I had not the gos- 
pel, and the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, 
I should be of all men the most miserable ! 
I hope I shall find grace in his sight daily, 
and live more to his glory ; but I have 
much to struggle with, and I now find 
what a misery it is to be without the 
preaching of the word. 

Referring to the dangers to which Eu- 
ropeans are exposed from the climate of 
Barbadoes, he says : — 

I have used every precaution, and my 
daily prayer is, that the Lord will enable 
me to watch, be sober, and ready, lest the 
Son of man come in such an hour as I 
know not. Without his grace I can do 
nothing, but I feel so much under the sha- 
dow of his wing, that I am in mind as 
comfortable as I desire. I have so much 
to distract me with regimental business^ 
that I know, that if this had happened to 
me some years ago, my natural irritability 



82 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



and anxious temper, with the chmate, 
would already have thrown me into a fe- 
ver. I am doing the duty of a major till 
one arrives from England; and I thank 
God, I can say, that when he comes I 
shall, I hope, return to my own without a 
murmur. I have been occupied reading 
General Burn's life there are so many 
coincidences to occurrences in my own 
life, that I feel interested in it. On Sunday 
I was able to have a small church assem- 
bled in my own room. 

A malignant fever having broken out 
in the island, he says : — 

A commissary taken ill yesterday — dead 
to-day. Such things in this climate are 
common occurrences. The 25th regiment, 
doing duty with us, has lost thirteen men 
the last month ; the Queen's, none. Bless 
the Lord, my soul ; yet how cold are 
my praises ! I am sure, if I had not the 
blood and righteousness of Christ, who 
honoured and fulfilled the law of God, to 
plead, I could have no hope. 

* Published by the Presbyterian Board of Publi- 
cation. 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 83 

I pray for repentance towards God, and 
faith in Christ Jesus ; and if I should be 
called away suddenly, I pray, " Lord, let 
thy servant depart in peace, for he hath 
on earth tasted the promised salvation; 
and if a partaker of grace now, of glory 
hereafter.'^ Has the Rev. Mr. Bicker- 
steth's account of his tour through part 
of Africa appeared? He promised to 
send it to me. He passed two or three 
days with me and my friends here. If 
religion is not on the increase in the 
Queen's, sobriety and temperance at table 
are ; and I never hear an oath uttered. 
There is a great change in many other 
respects, though I have to take up the 
cross daily — a soldier and a Christian, as I 
hope I am. Oh, you little know altogether 
what I suffer. 

A brother officer, and who was also a 
Christian friend, having been cut off by 
this fever, Captain Gordon thus wrote : — 

I have to bless God more and more 
daily for the repeated manifestations of 
himself to me, in a way that he doth not 
manifest himself to the world ; and I can 



84 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



well cry out, " The secret of the Lord is 
with them that fear him/' For these last 
two months, smTomided by the dying and 
the dead, what would this hfe be, had I 
not hope and strong faith ? Yes ; indeed 
I am strong in a strength not my own, 
and daily feed in rich pastures. I am now 
about to give you the account of a saint 
now in glory : my much lamented and 
dearly beloved Lieutenant Gray, of this 
regiment, who at the age of twenty-five 
years, departed this life on the 8th instant, 
after forty-eight hours' illness. On the 
evening of November 6, about seven, 
I had, as usual, gone to his room, when I 
found him very unwell, and upon feeling 
his pulse found it 120. I instantly sent 

for Mr. , the surgeon, and made him 

take a great quantity of blood ; but though 
he was well at dinner, by this time the 
most dangerous symptoms of the malignant 
fever peculiar to this climate had taken 
place. I had him sent to the naval hospi- 
tal; the military one being so crowded 
there was no room there. On the evening 
of the 8th, he expired in my arms. Though 
aware of his danger, he never once shrunk 
from death, but in his last moments breathed 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 85 

out the tender love he bore his parents^ and 
expressed his sure and firm faith of a glo- 
rious resurrection, through the atonement 
of a crucified Saviour. It had pleased God, 
about a year and a half ago, ta make me 
the humble, unworthy, but on this occa- 
sion, much honoured instrument of leading 
this dear child of God to the truth as it is 
in Christ Jesus; and from that period, 
down to the day of his death, he had con- 
stantly and devotedly walked before God, 
evidencing daily t^ie strongest proofs of 
Divine teaching, and progress in grace. 
His principles and practice never varied ; 
and God seemed to take him to himself as 
too good for this wicked world. Like ripe 
fruit, he fell from the tree. Like Enoch, 
he may be said to have been translated. 
His death was glorious and triumphant, 
having beforehand prepared to meet it in 
faith ; and his was a precious faith indeed. 
His last words to me were, " Gordon, my 
body is weary and weak ; but there is rest 
awaiting me when itis over.'^ I then said, 
" Christ hath said, ' I will never leave you 
nor forsake you.^ He returned for answer, 
" He hath never yet forsaken me, and I 
am sure he will not now.'^ There was a 
8 



86 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



smile on his features, which then almost 
lighted up his countenance, and his very 
last words we could hear were, " The 
blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.'' 
He talked of the sweet conversations we 
had had at difierent times about the Sa- 
viour; and it pleased God, that neither 
duty nor sickness prevented any of us 
from being with him in his last moments. 
There were five present, who I trust, are 
ready to make the same declarations and 
testimony to the truth. When Gray 
joined the regiment in 1808, in Guernsey, 
Colonel Ramsay put him under my charge ; 
and from that moment we became attached 
to one another, till it pleased God to cement 
that friendship by the only true bond, 
"the unity of the Spirit in the bond of 
peace. His loss is almost irreparable to 
me in one respect, that I have no longer 
the benefit of his superior wisdom and 
counsel; but that will lead me more to 
seek the wisdom which is from above. He 
was the object of the greatest respect, and 
almost admiration, in this truly respectable 
regiment, and his name will long live in 
their remembrance. I comfort myself with 
these words, and it is indeed sweet con- 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 



87 



solation, " He is now a saint in heaven, 
joined to the city of the hving God, the 
heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumera- 
ble company of angels, to the general 
assembly and church of the firstborn who 
are written in heaven, and to God, the 
Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men 
made perfect." He had learned his exer- 
cise well — in daily battles. No soldier 
kept his arms more shining and bright. 
He looked to Jesus, the Captain of his sal- 
vation, for orders, fof courage, for strength, 
for victory ; and all his enemies and oppo- 
sition fell before him. He died in a small 
room of an hospital, built by Sir Alex- 
ander Cochrane, for the navy. I mean to 
have a tombstone erected to his memory, 
with these words of Young : — 

The chamber where the Christian meets his fate, 
Is privileged beyond the common walk 
Of virtuous life, quite on the verge of heaven. 
God waits not the last moments — No ; he owns his 
friends 

On this side death, and points them out to men, 
A lecture silent, but of sovereign use. 

Speaking of the ravages of the before 
mentioned malignant disease, which de- 



88 



AX ACCOUNT OF THE 



prived him of his vabied friend, he 
says : — 

This has been a dreadful season indeed ; 
but bless the Lord, my soul, and forget 
not all his benefits. I am strong in the 
Lord Jesus, and find the 91st Psalm my 
comfort and support. I desire to look to 
Christ alone, and "emptied of self," as 
dear Mr. Wilkinson used to say, " let Christ 
be all in all," and exalted be his name for 
ever ! Let us go forth conquering and to 
conquer in his name, and let the name 
written on our banners be "love." 

It was not long before one of Captain 
Gordon's friends had to communicate the 
painful tidings, that he, too, had fallen a 
victim to the fever, which at that period 
raged with so much virulence. The fol- 
lowing is an extract from the letter that 
conveyed the melancholy account: — 

" During the short period in which Cap- 
tain Gordon was confined to a sick bed, 
he manifested the utmost resignation, and 
informed his medical attendants, with 
humble confidence, that he was quite pre- 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 89 

pared for the event, whatever it might be. 
The sting of death had been taken away ; 
and, through our Lord Jesus Christ, he 
had obtained a victory over the grave. 

" A confusion of intellect, not amounting 
to a total privation of reason, shortly ap- 
peared in the progress of the disease ; and 
though rendered by it incapable of conver- 
sing, he appeared much refreshed by the 
prayers of a clergyman of the Church of 
England who visited him ; and on his dis- 
solution appearing to be near at hand, it 
was repeated by a friend, ' Blessed are the 
dead which die in the Lord : that they 
may rest from their labours.' He said^ 

he would rather ; but could not 

utter another word. He gradually sunk, 
not appearing to endure much pain, and 
died with a placid smile on his dear coun- 
tenance. You have lost a beloved bro- 
ther; I, an esteemed and valued friend. 
His departed spirit is now partaking of 
that eternal weight of glory which has 
been long prepared for him. 

" Christ has loosened from this world a 
spirit which might here have shared out 
affections. Jesus has taken him to him- 
self; in Jesus may we then still behold 



90 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



him. He is singing with our dearest 
friend, the late Mr. Gray, the song of 
Moses and the Lamb ; enjoying more 
than he ever had the foretaste of I pray 
that we may all be as one in Christ : oh 
glorious view to behold all our Chrisdan 
brethren, and all those at a distance from 
us, in the face of Jesus Christ ! Daily, 
on going to the throne of grace, may we 
consider that our friends have formed a 
more intimate union with the ^Head of 
that body, of which we are only the more 
distant members. They still live in Christ. 
It would appear that God has selected 
those from amongst us who were most 
meet for his kingdom, most ripe for glory 
— Gray and your dear brother. Adams, 
Broderick, and myself, have been danger- 
ously ill with fever ; but God has spared 
us, and by their death tells us to prepare 
to meet our God. 

" It was a gratification in which I par- 
ticipated, when following his dear remains, 
to observe the marked respect paid to his 
memory by every individual in the regi- 
ment. He was a Christian indeed ; and 
on no occasion, although we have buried 
nine officers, was there such a feeling of 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 91 



estimation shown as in the present, and at 
the funeral of dear Gray. I was gratified 
and rejoiced on looking Zionward, in 
knowing that so dear a friend had reached 
in peace his Father's kingdom.'^ 

The following sketch of Captain Gor- 
don's change of sentiments, and subsequent 
character, was given by one who knew 
him well. I shall conclude these extracts 
regarding him, by inserting this in con- 
nexion with two passages from his last 
will and testament, only adding, that the 
short description of his character here 
given, seems very amply justified by the 
preceding extracts from his own letters. 

From October, 1814, to the time of his 
death, the change in his principles and 
pursuits was abiding and progressive. It 
soon appeared that he was renewed in the 
spirit of his mind ; and in no long time he 
was marked by his friends and former 
associates, as the opposite of what he had 
been. From thenceforward he added to 
faith, fortitude, knowledge of the word of 
God, self-government, patience, piety, bro- 
therly love, and benevolence. Confiding 



92 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



in the word of his grace^ he walked in the 
fear of God, and very uninterruptedly in 
the comforts of the Holy Spirit. His zeal | 
for the salvation of others, kept pace with 
the ardour and persevemnce with which 
he wrought out his own. God honoured 
him, both in the regiment, and, it is hoped, 
out of it, to bring not a few, not only 
under instruction, but to render that and 
bis example effectual for the salvation of 
some of them. The state of his mind may, 
in some degree, be judged of, by the fol- 
lowing extracts from the preamble and 
conclusion of his last will and testament, 
dated the 3d of July, 1S16:— 

'•I, John Gordon, impressed with the 
awfulness and the uncertainty of human 
life at all times, but more particularly in 
this quarter of the globe, will thank the 
major of the regiment to consider these 
few lines as my last will and testament, 
with regard to my effects in the West In- 
dies. Should it please God to call upon 
me suddenly to appear before him as my 
Judge and Creator, I desire to plead for 
mercy, for my manifold sins and daily 
transgressions, through the blood and 
righteousness of Him, who, though with- 



LATE CAPTAIN GORDON. 93 



out sin, became sin for us, that we might 
be clothed with his imputed righteousness ; 
and thus committing myself to him, who 
is able to keep to the last that which is 
entrusted to him, I die in the hope of a 

joyful resurrection. 

^ ^ ^ 

"And now I have only to pray, that I 
may, through faith in Christ Jesus, leave 
a testimony behind me, that religion is no 
vain thing ; and I pray that the kingdom 
of Christ may be advanced daily. I die in 
peace and good-will towards all my •dear 
brother officers ; and if, in duty* or oftier- 
wise, from a zeal for the service, I have 
been hasty, I trust they will attribute it to 
the true cause. Above all, I recommend 
unanimity among all ranks; and I trust 
you may all prepare for this last scene 
which awaits all men. 

(Signed) "John Gordon, 

"Senior Captain, Queen's.^^ 

* Being eldest captain, he had been in command 
of the regiment while in the West Indies, his supe- 
rior officers being absent. 



ACCOUNT OF MAJOR 



A&REEABLY to youi' requGSt, I sit down 
with pleasure to give you as simple a state- 
ment as may be, of the way God my 
Saviour led me. 

My father was descended from one of 
the noblest families in Scotland, but what 
is of infinitely greater importance, (before 
my Birth, I beUeve,) was adopted into the 
famfly of the redeemed ; and my mother 
being also decidedly pious, I had the in- 
valuable privilege of religious instruction 
from the earliest dawn of reason. I have 
understood that it was the wish of both 
my parents, that I should be devoted either 
to the kirk or the bar; and a noble relative 
in the north, to whose kind care I was 
early entrusted, had the former still in 
view : but God, in his infinite wisdom and 
mercy to myself and others, ordered it 
otherwise, and led me to choose the pro- 
fession of my father. At the age of sixteen 
I obtained a commission in the army, and 
served my king and country twenty years 
94 



MAJOR 



95 



by sea and land ; all of which time, though 
my judgment was informed, I lived entire- 
ly forgetful of that God who never once 
lost sight of me, but preserved me in perils 
and dangers innumerable, while thousands 
fell on my right hand and on my left. 

My excellent and pious father did not 
cease, ii; every letter to me during his life, 
to admonish me to make religion my first 
concern ; and after his decease, a pious and 
beloved only sister continued to do so, and 
to pray for her wicked and thoughtless 
brother. During this long period I had 
many sharp convictions ; and often, v/hen 
my brother officers, and even those, of all 
beings the most thoughtless, French officers, 
have been envying me as a happy fellow, 
like Colonel Gardiner, I have been wish- 
ing myself any thing rather than a rational 
and accountable creature. 

In the year 1815, I was doing duty on 
board his Majesty's ship St. Lawrence, at 
Kingston, on Lake Ontario, in Upper 
Canada, when peace was made with 
America. I had been frequently displea- 
sed with the conduct of a young officer 
under my command ; but one evening, in 
particular, he began singing a song in ridi- 



96 



ACCOUNT OF 



cule of sacred things : this I could not en- 
dure, but went on the quarter deck, and 
sent to say I wished to speak with him : 
this was I think between eight and nine 
o^clock, a fine summer evening. We walk- 
ed the deck the whole night, conversing 
in the most serious manner ; I pointing out 
his awful danger by thus abusing sacred 
things, recommending him to read the 
Bible and pray, and telling him if he would 
read it, I would give him Watson's " Apo- 
logy for the Bible.'' He promised he 
would, took all I said in good part, and. 
with tears, said he had never met such a 
friend before, promising never to act such 
a part again. Next morning I left the ship, 
and proceeded for Britain. I have often 
wondered at my conduct on this occasion, 
as at the time, and for some months after 
this, I knew nothing of real religion. My 
judgment was informed, I perceived my 
own danger, but his appeared still more 
awful. 

Through the goodness and mercy of 
God, I arrived safe on British ground in 
August, 1815. 

Having been commandant of the depart- 
ment to which I belonged in Canada, I 



MAJOR 



97 



proceeded to London, to settle my ac- 
counts with the paymaster. The theatre 
had always been one of my greatest snares ; 
but, at this time, I met with Hervey's 
" Theron and Aspasio,'' and believe it was 
chiefly by reading it I became thoroughly 
disgusted with the theatre, and went no 
more. I was still destitute of any thing 
like religion but the mere form ; but having 
proceeded to head quarters, and on Sunday, 
the 7th of January, 1816, being confined 
to my lodgings by indisposition, Provi- 
dence directed me to the tract, " The Sin 
and Danger of Neglecting the Saviour,"* 
which my sister had put among my bag- 
gage in 1806, and had accompanied me 
from that period unnoticed; but the time 
of God's mercy was come, when I should 
be brought not only to confess, but to feel, 
what it is to be a sinner. 

I believe every sin that I had ever com- 
mitted, in thought, word, or deed, arose 
before me in dread array. I stood self- 
condemned, and could not but admit, did 
God cause sentence to be excuted on me, 
as it was only what I merited, he would 



[Tract No. 25, of the Pres. Board of Publication.] 
9 



98 



ACCOUNT OF 



be most righteous. I cast myself on the 
floor, and, for the first time in my life, 
really prayed, saying, with the humbled 
publican, " God be merciful to me a sin- 
ner,'' yea, the very chief of sinners. I con- 
tinued for some days in a most awful state 
of mind, beseeching God to have mercy 
on me, and to grant me the Holy Spirit to 
direct me what I should do. And for the 
encouragement of all who may read this, 
and who feel the burden of sin, I will say, he 
did answer my prayer, and directed me to 
one of his most honoured servants, the late 
Rev. John Griffin, of Portsea ; and through 
his preaching, and studying the Bible on 
my knees, I was, in a short time, through 
the teaching of the Holy Spirit, enabled to 
rejoice in Christ Jesus as all my salvation ; 
and having given myself first unto God, 
was received in a few months as a mem- 
ber of the church, of which he was the 
faithful, holy, and judicious pastor for forty- 
two years. He had honoured God our 
Saviour much, especially by his exertions 
in the missionary cause ; and he was, in 
consequence, highly honoured as the bless- 
ed instrument of bringing many to the Sa- 
viour, who shall be to him for a crown of 



MAJOR 



99 



joy and rejoicing, in the day, the glorious 
day, when Jehovah Jesus shall come to be 
glorified in his saints, and to be admired 
in all them that, through grace, have be- 
lieved. 

With fervent prayers that the great 
Head of the church may bless to our army 
and navy this labour of love in which you 
are engaged, and cause it to act as a sti- 
mulus to all who have relations in those 
* services ; and that what is here recorded, 
in my particular case, may be a means of 
encouragement to tract distributors; and 
that all your labours, stated and occasional, 
may be crowned with the most abundant 
success ; I remain, my dear and reverend 
friend, yours most faithfully. 



LOSS ARISING FROM THE WANT OF CHRIS- 
TIAN INTERCOURSE. 

A RESPECTABLE clergyman of the English 
church informed me, that, a short time 
after the battle of Waterloo, he was tra- 
velling on the continent, when, after being 
disappointed of an opportunity of preach- 
ing at Paris, he was rather unexpectedly 
called upon to preach in a chapel, in a 
town where several English famiUes resi- 
ded. He, on this occasion, chose a text 
which led him to notice some of the great 
leading doctrines of Divine truth, as the 
ruined state of man as a sinner, and the 
only way of salvation by Jesus Christ. An 
officer of rank happened to be one of his 
audience. On the Monday following he 
was asked to dine in company with this 
gentleman, along with several others. He 
was struck with the particular marks of 
attention which he received from him dur- 
mg dinner; and, when they went to the 
drawing room to tea, he thus addressed 
him when they got into a corner by them- 
100 



WANT OF CHRISTIAN INTERCOURSE. 101 

selves : — " Allow me to say^ sir, that I was 
very much gratified by hearing your ser- 
mon yesterday, and you will not be sur- 
prised that I was so, when I mention the 
following circumstances. My attention was 
first directed to the Bible by attending a 
meeting of a Bible Society some years ago, 
in a provincial town in England, where my 
regiment happened to be quartered at the 
time. The clergyman of the place was 
unfavourable to the society, and dissuaded 
the people from countenancing it. This very 
circumstance, perhaps, excited my curiosity 
to see what sort of a thing it was. But be 
that as it may, I went, and certainly I 
heard so much said in favour of the Bible, 
of its excellence and utility, that I was de- 
termined to read it. I did so, and from 
carefully perusing it, I thought I saw in it 
the doctrines, in substance at least, that 
you preached yesterday. I never, how- 
ever, from that time till this, met with one 
who seemed from his conversation, to 
view things in the same Hght ; and though, 
from finding that the views I had been led 
to entertain of the doctrines of the Bible 
gave me support and comfort in suffering 
and sorrow, I was very unwilling to give 
9* 



102 LOSS ARISING FROM THE WANT 

them up ; yet, from this circumstance, I 
was led to entertain some doubts whether 
I understood the Scriptures aright, or whe- 
ther the opinions I entertained were fancies 
of my own. Having frequently felt some 
misgivings on this subject, you may well 
conceive how much satisfaction I expe- 
rienced in having my views confirmed by 
your discourse.'^ 

It may well be supposed that this dis- 
covery formed a powerful bond of union, 
and created a deep mutual interest in both 
parties. I have only to observe, that the 
officer referred to, has since occupied some 
important public situations ; and has, so 
far as I have learned, ever acted in a man- 
ner perfectly consistent with the profession 
he at that time made. 

I cannot introduce this incident without 
subjoining two observations to which it 
naturally gives rise. 

First. We have here a specimen of one 
of the indirect advantages arising from the 
Bible Society. A public meeting called at 
the formation, or the annual celebration of 
a district society, was the instrument 'of 
awakening the attention of this officer to 



OF CHRISTIAN INTERCOURSE. 103 

the contents of the Bible. There is reason 
to hope, that this has been a case of not 
unfrequent occurrence. The variety of 
speakers employed on such occasions ; lay- 
men engaged in recommending the Bible 
who never spoke in public about it before, 
together with the eloquent appeals that are 
sometimes addressed to the audience, have 
often excited a curiosity to come and hear 
what was said at such meetings, among 
those who were not in the way of hearing 
such addresses any where else ; and while 
some instances of the beneficial effects of 
such addresses have come under our no- 
tice, may we not reasonably entertain the 
hope, that many similar instances exist 
which will only be known at the great 
final day. 

My second remark is, that such an inci- 
dent as that recorded may show the utility 
of such a publication as the present. In 
so far as it may get into the hands of any 
officer, it will show him that he does not 
stand alone : that the principles he may 
gather from his Bible are known and ac- 
knowledged, not only by many whose 
judgment he must respect, but by many 
of the same profession with himself. The 



104 WANT OF CHRISTIAN INTERCOURSE. 



knowledge of this fact, and of the stedfast- 
ness with which some officers have main- 
tained their Christian profession amidst the 
taunts or the obloquy with which they 
have been assailed, will be found, I trust, 
much fitted to encourage others to perse- 
vere amidst similar opposition, and to re- 
sist, with a firm decision of character, the 
temptations with which they may be sur- 
rounded. 



CONVERSION OF LIEUTENANT 
W— . 



Lieutenant W — , in complying with 
the request of his friend^ to give an ac- 
count of the change that had taken place 
in his sentiments and conduct, begins 
thus : — 

I should premise, that ever since I was 
seventeen years of age I had been an open 
infidel and deist, having been made so at 
that early age by an old grey-headed gen- 
tleman, of the name of D — , who attacked 
me one night at his house in Hereford, 
where I\was spending the evening with 
his son. The old man, thinldng I was an 
artless, easy prey, commenced the subject 
after tea — warily and artfully, lest I should 
be shocked and frightened away. He 
tempted me, just as the devil did Eve, by 
casting suspicious doubts and evil surmises 
into my mind, till he excited my eager 
curiosity to hear all he had to say ; telling 
me it was true wisdom and knowledge, 

105 



106 



CONVERSION OF 



and that I and all Christians were bhnded 
by priestcraft, etc. As I knew nothing 
of the arguments in proof of the authen- 
ticity of the Scripture and truth of the 
Christian religion, he, in the course of a 
couple of hours, so powerfully tempted 
me — exciting in me every bad passion, 
particularly my pride to gain this know- 
ledge, and be wiser than the Christian 
world at large, and that I might be above 
all law to God, and sin Avith impunity — 
that I stretched forth my hand, and did 
pluck of the forbidden tree and eat. In- 
stantly the poison began to Avork and cor- 
rupt within me ; for I left him late, and on 
going home, finding my sisters had gone 
to bed, I thought I could not rest till 
morning to attack them as I myself had 
been attacked , and when I gained oppor- 
tunity, endeavoured, by rant, boldness, 
and boasting, to poison them with the 
same abominations I had now imbibed. 

I continued in this state, a proud infidel 
boaster, till I went to a place called Mohill, 
in the county of Leitrim, in Ireland, on 
detachment; having, alas, ere this, cor- 
rupted many a young man with the poison 
of infideUty : for I had learned all the jar- 



LIEUTENANT W . 



107 



gon, cant, sophistry, and impudence of this 
system of the devil ; and to be thought a 
clever fellow, and to raise a laugh, I used 
to ridicule Christ and his religion : but I 
own it was more out of sinful pride and 
vanity, than from disrespect in my judg- 
ment, or enmity to the character of Christ 
and his religion. However, I did not, and 
could not, in any sense, believe his religion 
or the Bible to be true. I had never read 
any arguments or books of evidences of 
the truth of Christianity, nor would I read 
them ; but I had greedily devoured all the 
infidel writings I could meet with. The 
fact is, I did not wish to be convinced of 
the truth of the Bible and the Christian 
religion. I was an infidel from the love 
of sin, that I might indulge therein with 
impunity and liberty, and without fear of 
evil consequences ; and for the same rea- 
sons would have been an open professed 
atheist, but I could not. And I believe in 
my soul, that every infidel and atheist is 
so solely from the same motives; and I 
am persuaded that most of this class of 
men feel as I did, if they would but tell 
the truth ; but they are ashamed to do so ; 
for, although I launched into all the plea- 



108 



CONVERSION OF 



suresand sins of the ungodly world, I was 
miserable ; and, like Milton's Satan, car- 
ried a hell within me, from which, no more 
than from myself, could I escape by change 
of time, or place, or scene. I knew there 
was a God, omnipotent, omniscient, omni- 
present, holy, righteous, and true. I could 
not but believe and deeply feel, though I 
denied it, that there was a judgment day 
to come, a heaven, and a hell. These 
truths I never could shake off, and I was, 
therefore, at times, when not in the intox- 
ication of pleasure and revelry, miserably 
wretched. There were some simple argu- 
ments which, from their reasonableness 
and truth, always tormented me ; and by 
means of which I was literally my own 
tormentor ; or rather my conscience was, 
which indeed "makes cowards of us all.^' 
The arguments were these : namely, If 
Scripture be true, all my disbelief and re- 
jection of it can never make it false ; and 
it never has been proved false : which, 
after all the opposition, and attacks, and 
sifting it has met with from every quarter, 
is a negative and presumptive proof that 
it is true. I reject it solely from necessity, 
not from choice of judgment or conscience ; 



LIEUTENANT W — . 109 

for I know its doctrines are grand, and 
good, and most worthy of God : whereas 
the scheme I have embraced, but cannot 
fully believe, of no future state and anni- 
hilation, is putting myself on a level with 
the beasts that perish, and is base. Now, 
if I were to be happy hereafter, I should 
naturally wish, like the Christians, to live 
for ever, as a recompense for all the pain, 
misery, and wretchedness of this world: 
so that I am forced, through necessity 
alone, to wish (for, after all, I cannot so 
believe it as to dispel my fears) to be anni- 
hilated at death. I therefore embrace the 
infidel doctrines in opposition to the Scrip- 
tures, although I know the infidel doc- 
trines to be bad in themselves, and pro- 
ductive of all evil, and the Scripture doc- 
trines good, and productive of all good ; 
but I reject the Scriptures, because they 
assert a future hell. Take away the hell, 
and I will instantly embrace and profess 
Christianity ; for I should like, as would 
every infidel, if he spoke the truth, to go 
to heaven, and be happy for ever, what- 
ever that happiness may be. Yea, if there 
should be no happiness, but merely an 
exemption from misery, I should like it 
10 



110 



CONVERSION OF 



above all things, and embrace Christianity 
for the sake of it ; for any thing is better 
than an eternal hell : and if there really 
be such a place of punishment, I know I 
deserve it. And if this be a truth, that 
there is an eternal hell, then my disbelief, 
or rather my trying to disbelieve it, but in 
vain, and rejection of it, cannot make it 
less true ; for, if true in itself, it must ever 
remain so, which is the very nature of 
truth. 

But, particularly, the following old and 
simple argument always upset me at once, 
because it was short and incontrovertible, 
and embraced the whole of what I have 
here stated : namely. If the Christian re- 
ligion be false, the Christian will lose no- 
thing by it, but then will only be on a 
footing with the infidel, provided infideHty 
be true : but if Christianity be true, the 
Christian will gain every thing by it, and 
the infidel lose every thing; and then in- 
fidelity will be proved to be false, and an 
eternal hell proved for infidels. In short, 
come what will, which ever be true or 
false, the Christian can lose nothing by 
embracing his system ; whereas the infidel 
may lose every thing, if his system prove 



LIEUTENANT W — . Ill 



false : therefore, the chances are against 
the infidel, and it is possible, and probable, 
he may be cast into hell for ever. 

This argument used to make me terribly 
afraid, whenever I reflected upon the sub- 
ject; for I clearly saw, that, as it was 
more than probable, and natural, and ra- 
tional, there was a hell, it was probable, 
if I lived and died an infidel, I should be 
in it for ever. These thoughts would put 
to flight all my boasting, pleasures, and 
amusements, and dash down the draught 
of animal happiness from my Hps ; or, at 
least, so embitter and poison it, that I was 
often miserable beyond description ; but, 
through shame and pride, never told my 
feehngs to any one. 

When I arrived at INIohill, I had the 
good providence to be introduced to a truly 
Christian lady ; and, after I had enjoyed 
her acquaintance a short time, I began to 
perceive and admire her great excellence. 
She was so benevolent and kind, and 
showed such a real interest in my present 
and eternal welfare and happiness, know- 
ing what were my perverted sentiments, 
and how wretched I must be, that I soon 
became intimate enough to unbosom my 



112 



CONVERSION OF 



whole soul to her, with all its misery. 
And from the time I first knew her, re- 
specting and admiring Christianity, and 
its excellence, so vividly manifested in her, 
I ceased to oppose or ridicule the Christian 
religion. In short, she so won my confi- 
dence and high regard, that I told her sin- 
cerely all my past history of infidelity, and 
all my present wretchedness. 

The first time I thus conversed with 
her, she said, Mr. W — , I have a strong 
presentiment, and feel persuaded, that ere 
a year is passed you will be a true Chris- 
tian.^^ I replied, " I most sincerely hope 
you may prove a true prophetess ; for I 
would give worlds to be a Christian, as 
you are for I both knew her excellence 
and virtues, and that she was ever happy ; 
and my own sin and guilt, and that I was 
ever miserable. 

During my acquaintance with this Chris- 
tian lady, she used every argument to win 
me over; and showed that pity, kindness, 
and compassion, which the gospel proves 
is the only way to this happy end, "in 
meekness, instructing ^those that oppose 
themselves; if God, peradventure, will 
give them repentance to the acknowledg- 



LIEUTENANT W — . 



113 



ing of the truth.'^ The happy result was, 
that, in a short time, I found I had no 
doubts left of the truth of the Scriptures, 
and that I behoved them in my conscience, 
as I did ever before that fatal night the 
hoary-headed infidel taught me to disbe- 
lieve and reject them. 

During three months I had the privilege 
and happiness of this Christian lady's kind 
counsel, and interest in my spiritual wel- 
fare, I gradually became more and more 
sincerely anxious to become a true Chris- 
tian, such as I knew she was, and to be- 
lieve with that holy saving faith, of which 
she used to speak, and proved from Scrip- 
ture to be the gift and operation of the 
Holy Spirit on the mind. As yet, how- 
ever, I could not understand, in the slight- 
est degree, the real meaning of the nature 
or power of faith, or of spiritual things 
generally. All was darkness, mystery, and 
an enigma to me, both as to understanding 
these things, and feeling their power on 
my soul. This is agreeable to 1 Cor. ii. 
14: "The natural man receiveth not the 
things of the Spirit of God : for they are 
foolishness unto hhn : neither can he know 
them, because they are spiritually dis- 
lO'' 



114 



CONVERSION OF 



cerned.'^ Yet she told me^ that if I prayed 
in truth and sincerity, and read the Scrip- 
tures in prayer; if I asked, it would be 
given me; if I sought, I should find ; and 
she was sure I should do so ; and that ere 
long I should possess this spiritual, saving, 
purifying faith, and be a truly regenerated 
child of God. This she always affirmed, 
judging from my sincerity and candour ; 
as I seriously confessed, with sorrow, that 
I was a sinner, guilty and miserable, and 
that I longed anxiously to be made a real 
Christian. 

At this time I had many convictions of 
sin, and began to pray in private for par- 
don, which I had entirely left off since the 
night I was corrupted by the old sinner, 
the deist ; and I also think my Christian 
landlord used sometimes to read the Scrip- 
tures and pray with me. I now respect- 
ed the religion of Christ, and his real dis- 
ciples. I loved the Saviour (although I 
could not call him my Saviour) and his 
children dearly, however poor or mean in 
life they might be ; and, indeed, had gra- 
dually done so from the time my first 
friend took such an interest in my spiritual 
welfare and happiness. 



LIEUTENANT W . 



115 



Shortly after this, my detachment was 
called to head quarters ; hnmediately upon 
which I got leave of absence, and went to 
pay a visit for several months to my rela- 
tions in my native island, the Isle of Man. 

In the Isle of Man I heard the gospel 
preached by an old school fellow, the Rev. 
R. Browne, a minister of a sweet Christian 
spirit. In his sermons he dwelt much, in 
a very powerful and energetic manner, on 
the universal depravity of mankind, the 
nature and necessity of regeneration, the 
blood and merits of Christ, and the mercy 
of the Father through him to the chief of 
sinners ; and, as his discourses were deli- 
vered extempore, they came with the more 
power to my heart. By constantly attend- 
ing his ministry, having the benefit of his 
and other Christian people's society, who 
used to meet together for social prayer and 
reading the Scriptures, and by reading good 
books and tracts, I gradually became influ- 
enced, I trust, by the truth as it is in Jesus. 
As I heard and read the primary funda- 
mental truths on which all real Christians, 
of all denominations, agree, I learned to 
pray earnestly to Jesus Christ, under a 
sense of guilt, now deeply felt, for pardon 



116 



CONVERSION OF 



and salvation, regeneration and holiness ; 
and I trust the good work of grace was 
then begun in my regeneration and con- 
version of soul to God ; for I was sincere 
and zealous at that time among all my 
friends and relations, endeavouring to lead 
them into the truth, so far as I experi- 
mentally knew it. But, although sincere 
and earnest, I was at this time very dark 
and ignorant, and, though not knowingly 
or allowedly, very legal. 

Shortly after this he came to St. Helena, 
where he met with a valuable Christian 
friend, W — e. At this time the subject of 
this narrative was very fond of controversy 
on some disputed points ; and as he thought 
he could easily beat his friend in argument, 
he often tried to lead him into controver- 
sial discussion. Instead, however, of en- 
couraging this, his friend remarked : — 
" Well, well, W— , I think the Lord is 
dealing Avith you ; and therefore he will 
carry on the work he has begun, and lead 
you into all truth, and we shall ultimately 
be agreed.^' 

I cannot pass by this part of the narra- 
tive^ without observing how strikingly the 



LIEUTENANT W 



117 



conduct of this judicious friend resembled 
that of the late Mr. Newton, in his corres- 
pondence with the late Mr. Scott, the well- 
known author of the commentary on the 
Bible. The latter, at the early period of 
his inquiries, was equally desirous of en- 
gaging Mr. Newton in controversy on cer- 
tain points on which they differed. This 
attempt, however, the good man treated 
in the same way. He saw his friend was 
sincerely inquiring after the truth, and he 
had no difficulty regarding the result. That 
result he had afterwards the satisfaction 
of seeing fully attained, in finding his justly 
valued brother brought cordially to em- 
brace those very truths, which, at the com- 
mencement of his inquiry, he so much op- 
posed. See Letters to the Rev. Mr. S — , 
in Cardiphonia. 

Though controversy has often been the 
means of eliciting truth, there is always a 
danger, especially if conducted in the pre- 
sence of others, of arguing for victory 
rather than truth. A remark to this effect, 
I think, somewhere occurs in the memoirs 
of the late excellent Henry Martyn. Hence 
he was always anxious to impress those 
with whom he conversed with the convic- 



118 



CONVERSION OP 



tion, that he had only one object in view 
— their eternal good. This will ever be 
found the most direct mode to the heart. 

Referring to a more advanced period of 
his Christian knowledge^ Lieutenant W — 
thus writes : — 

When I was led to see the true nature 
and grounds of a sinner's justification be- 
fore God ; that it was not conditional, but 
unconditional, and by faith through the 
righteousness of Christ imputed ; that is, 
that the sinner upon believing is pardoned, 
accepted, and invested with a title to eter- 
nal life, for the sake of the infinite merits 
of Jesus Christ, who died, the just for the 
unjust, to reconcile us to God, through the 
mercy and sovereign grace of God the 
Father : when I understood and received 
this blessed truth, I was quite overwhelm- 
ed with that joyous grief which ever ac- 
companies true repentance not to be re- 
pented of.^' I now saw clearly that a re- 
penting, believing sinner is completely and 
eternally justified, through faith, without 
the deeds of the law ; even through the 
righteousness of God, who can be (or ap- 
pear) just, as well as merciful, while " the 



LIEUTENANT W . 



119 



justifier of him which beUeveth in Jesus 
so that " to him that worketh not, but be- 
Heveth on him that justifieth the ungodly, 
his faith is counted for righteousness.^^ 
Now I plainly saw the meaning of, heartily 
embraced, and rejoiced in these blessed 
passages, and multitudes more of the same 
nature throughout the word of God. They 
now appeared as with a sunbeam ; and I 
was only amazed at myself in being so 
sinfully blind and obstinate as not to un- 
derstand and receive them before ; and 
that I could have been so long bewitched 
as to resist or oppose their plain and ob- 
vious meaning. 

I now seemed to have got the key of 
truth, and every passage on these impor- 
tant points appeared clear and obvious. I 
read as with new eyes and new hght, and 
as with a new faculty altogether. What 
was I now to conclude from the following 
passages ? what was I to receive as their 
simple and obvious meaning ? In Rom. viii, 
I read, " Whom he justified, them he also 
glorified. If God be for us, who can be 
against us ? Who shall lay any thing to the 
charge of God's elect ? It is God that justi- 
fieth. Who is he that condemneth 



120 



CONVERSION OF 



Then Paul affirms he is persuaded that no- 
thing — no created being in heaven, earth, 
or hell — shall be able to separate the true 
believer from the love of God which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. And again, " If 
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and 
joint-heirs with Christ." But, above all, 
what was the plain and obvious meaning 
of Christ himself, who spake as never man 
spake, and in every sense the whole truth 
in the very plainest and simplest, yet the 
most powerful manner, and so as he could 
not possibly be misunderstood through 
mere ignorance ? Therefore, if language 
could mean any thing, his must, above all, 
be the most plain and inteUigible. Well, 
then, I saw the meaning of such passages 
as these as plainly as if written with light 
itself; and truly they were spoken by the 
true Light of the world ; namely, " He 
that heareth my word, and believeth on 
him that sent me, hath everlasting life, 
and shall not come into condemnation ; but 
is passed from death unto hfe. All that 
the Father giveth me shall come to me ; 
and him that cometh to me I will in no 
Avise cast out. This is the will of him that 
sent me, that every one which seeth the 



LIEUTENANT W . 



121 



Son, and believeth on him, may have ever- 
lasting Ufa, and I will raise him up at the 
last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, 
He that beheveth on me hath everlasting 
life. Whoso eateth my flesh, etc., hath 
eternal life ; and I will raise him up at the 
last day,'^ John v. 24 ; vi. 37, 47, 54. And, 
in John x. 28, "I give unto them eternal 
life ; and they shall never perish, neither 
shall any (created being) "pluck them 
out of my hand.'' 

The immediate effects of this change 
wrought in me by the Holy Spirit were 
great. My load of uncertainty, legality, 
self-righteousness, and unhappiness, was 
removed entirely, and my soul filled with 
peace and joy. I was brought as into a 
new world of being ; looked upon the word 
of God, religion, and all things in the king- 
doms of nature and providence, as well as 
of grace and glory, through a new medium ; 
old things, indeed, in many important 
senses, had passed away, and all things 
had become new. And as to love to God 
in Christ, not only for mercies generally, 
but these sure, eternally sure mercies, my 
heart was ready to burst its bounds ; and 
now, in deed and in truth, I felt power- 
11 



122 



CONVERSION OP 



fully the words of Jesus to Mary : Her 
sins^ which are many, are forgiven ; for 
she loved much/' Luke vii. 47. Full as- 
surance of faith and hope filled my soul, 
and I felt as already in heaven. Now I 
could say, with Paul, " I count all things 
but loss for the excellency of the know- 
ledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : and do 
count them but dung, that I may win 
Christ, and be found in him, not having 
mine own righteousness, which is of the 
law, but that which is through the faith 
of Christ, the righteousness which is of 
God by faith,'' Phil. iii. S. Now I felt I 
had power, through Christ strengthening 
me, to rush into the midst of the battle 
against the world, the flesh, and the devil, 
and to give a helping hand to others. Oh ! 
truly tl\pse say falsely, who affirm that 
these are doctrines tending to laxity of 
moral and spiritual conduct and life : surely 
those who have felt their power, (and they 
only can give an opinion,) can testify to 
the very reverse, and assert that they in- 
spire, under the Spirit's teaching, the Chris- 
tian soldier's heart to begin and continue 
to fight the good fight of faith unto death. 
And why ? because he has been assured 



LIEUTENANT W . 



123 



by the Captain of his salvation that he 
shall gain the victory, and come oif "more 
than conqueror through him that loveth 
him/^ Of that he is assured by the im- 
mutable oath of his God and Saviour when 
he begins the contest : and, oh ! surely this 
will make him fight manfully and courage- 
ously, even though he were a coward be- 
fore through his doubts, and fears, and un- 
certainty of victory. 



CONVERSION OF MR. , OF THE 

MEDICAL STAFF, AND CAP- 
TAIN T . 



The following account of the conversion 
of an ofBcer, who died many years ago, I 
received from a gentleman on the medical 
staff in the British army. But as this gen- 
tleman's own history is not less interest- 
ing, as containing a signal display of Di- 
vine grace, than that of his military friend, 
I shall first notice some of the leading cir- 
cumstances attending his own change of 
sentiments with which he has favoured me. 

INIr. says : 

"I had naturally no tendency to religi- 
ous melancholy, or indeed melancholy of 
any kind ; but was rather much attached 
to scenes of merriment and gaiety. When 

my regiment was quartered in , a 

small town in Scotland, I became without 
being able to account for it, or to mark any 
particular means, deeply affected with a 
124 



A MEDICAL OFFICER. 



125 



sense of guilt. I was particularly impres- 
sed with my base ingratitude to that Al- 
mighty Being, who had graciously preser- 
ved me in various situations of danger in 
which I had been placed, and I was invol- 
ved in the greatest spiritual distress.^^ 

I may introduce, here, some instances 
of the goodness of God in preserving him 
in scenes of danger, which Mr. parti- 
cularly mentioned to me. 

He accompanied the late and lamented 
Sir John Moore, in the retreat to Corunna. 
He was waiting on another officer. Sir W. 
M., who had got his arm shot oS by a 
cannon ball, when he was called to attend 
Sir John, and was employed, along with 
others, in laying him down on his pallet, 
from which he never rose. The danger to 
every one in that field was very great. 

Another case, was one of those signal 
preservations, Avhere the superintending 
care of Providence was most manifest in 
leading the blind in a way that they know 

not. The regiment to which Mr. 

was attached, was ordered to the North 
Sea, in three transports, the Aurora, the 
Pelican, and the Maria. The Aurora, 
11 * 



126 



CONVERSION OP 



head-quarter ship, was the preferable ves- 
sel, as the colonel of the regiment and his 

staff sailed in it. Mr. was at first 

put on board the Aurora, but, without 
knowing the reason, he was afterwards 
sent to the Pelican. He was, indeed, call- 
ed to visit the colonel in the Aurora, on 
account of the delicate state of his health. 
But as it was necessary for him to leave 
the regiment, and go ashore at Portsmouth, 
Mr. — — was sent back to the Pelican, 
rather to his disappointment and mortifica- 
tion. When they arrived at the North 
Sea, near Heligoland, a dreadful storm 
arose, and the commodore made signals to 
all the transports to run into the first port 
they could find. The Aurora ran 'upon a 
sand bank, and all on board perished. It 
was only by pieces of the wreck being 
found floating, that the loss of the trans- 
port was discovered. The Maria ran on 
a rock, near the coast of Holland, and only 
a few got into the boat, and reached land. 
The Pelican was the only one of the three 
that escaped, and got safely into Deal. 
To the above, I may add another very 

remarkable preservation which Mr. 

experienced. At Lugo, a considerable 



A MEDICAL OFFICER. 127 



town in Spain, in which there was a con- 
vent, the French and British armies were 
within sight of each other. The British 
were posted not far from the town, and in 
order to get the start of the enemy, who 
were harassing them on their retreat. Sir 
John Moore ordered them to leave their 
fires burning, and to go off under cover of 
night. The British army took a sort of 
by-road through the fields, under the di- 
rection of guides, in order to reach the 
main road by a shorter course. " We had 

sad rough work of it,'' says Mr. , 

moving on in the dark. I was riding a 
capital Spanish horse, in company with 
some of the officers, when information 
came that a soldier had broke his leg, and 
that I must accompany him back to the 
convent at Lugo, where the sick were left. 
The major said he would accompany me, 
and after leaving the man in the convent, 
where there was medical assistance, we 
would return to the army. In returning, 
the soldier was put on one horse, while 
the major and I rode the other. But as 
we approached Lugo, I thought it best to 
ride forward to prepare the surgeon in the 
convent to receive the patient, while he 



128 



CONVERSION OF 



and the major should come on at their lei- 
sure. The convent was surrounded with 
a sunk area, which appeared to be ten or 
twelve feet deep, at least, with the wall 
of the convent on the one side, a stone 
wall on the other, and pavement in the bot- 
tom. There was hardly any parapet, and 
in the dark my horse went fairly into it. I 
got a dreadful shock by the fall, and soon 
found myself lying by my horse. He soon 
got to his feet ; and I apprehensive that 
some of my bones must have been broken, 
gradually attempted to rise. To my as- 
stonishment, (though, alas ! then no other 
emotion was produced,) I soon discovered 
that not only was no bone broke, but not 
even a bruise or a scratch received. The 
inhabitants of the convent were soon 
alarmed, but the question was, how my 
horse was to get out of the area. It was 
a most tractable animal, and as there were 
stairs up from the kitchen, with which it 
communicated, it came up them almost like 
a cat. I committed my man to the care 
of the surgeon left in the convent, and, 
with the major, rode back to the regiment. 
When the circumstances were mentioned, 
I was congratulated as a wonderfully lucky 



A MEDICAL OFFICER. 



129 



fellow, to make such an escape; but, at 
that time, I and those around me looked 
no farther. He continues his narrative : — 

" I felt my guilt, and saw my danger ; 
but, as yet, I knew nothing of the method 
of recovery. I viewed myself as a victim 
of the Divine displeasure, on account of 
sin ; and as I was conscious that I was 
deeply adding to my transgressions, while 
I was afraid to live, I was equally afraid 
to die. 

" About this time, I married an amiable 
young woman, whom God has been plea- 
sed to remove from me many years ago. 
Though I had every thing in my external 
circumstances to make me happy, I was 
a stranger to happiness, and spent my days 
in misery. I do not know, if the expres- 
sion in Scripture applies to such a case, 
"A wounded spirit who can bear?" but I 
am sure such language was very applic- 
able to my case. I endeavoured, as much 
as possible, to conceal the cause of my dis- 
tress from my wife, but to conceal the dis- 
tress itself was impossible. 

" On one occasion, I rode out to see the 
general of the regiment, who lived in the 



130 



CONVERSION OP 



neighbourhood. He was from home, but 
I found his lady, and while conversing 
with her, in the drawing-room, I dropped 
down in a fainting fit, wliich, as my gene- 
ral health was then good, I had reason to 
think was greatly occasioned by the exces- 
sive agitation of my mind. It may well 
be supposed, that this produced no small 
confusion in the house ; and the first time 
I was restored to consciousness, I found 
the general, who had returned from his 
ride, standing by me, who told me, that he 
had sent to the town for the surgeon of 
another regiment that was quartered in the 
same place, and that I must go home in his 
carriage. I assured him, that I felt quite 
well after I was restored, and that I could 
easily ride home ; but he kindly insisted I 
should comply with his proposal. 

" After I got home, my medical atten- 
dant, with another gentleman of the pro- 
fession, waited on me. They proposed 
some remedies commonly used in such 
cases ; but there was nothing wrong in the 
bodily frame. I endeavoured to show 
them this from my professional knowledge; 
out it was evident my case was one they 
did not understand. 



A MEDICAL OFFICER. 131 



" After being for some time in this state, 
I was led to see the Divine excellence of 
the plan of mercy, and a flood of sacred 
joy broke in upon my mind. I felt a plea- 
sure in reading the Scriptures, which I 
cannot describe, and of a kind with which 
I was before altogether unacquainted. I 
purchased, at that time, a great many ex- 
cellent books, calculated to explain them, 
and took great pleasure in perusing them. 
I told my wife she was now indeed a 
happy woman, in being united to one to 
whom God had shown so much favour. 
But, when I first mentioned this, the con- 
trast was so striking, that, unable to ac- 
count for it, and fearing that my mind was 
somewhat a,ffected, she was quite over- 
come, and burst into tears. She was soon, 
however, convinced that it was no tem- 
porary illusion, but a real change that I 
had experienced. 

" At this time, I was visited by an ex- 
cellent minister in the neigbourhood, who 
quite understood all I said. Indeed, he 
was the only person I then met with who 
did so. All my experience was quite out 
of the beat of the rest of those around me. 
While he wcis able to enter into my joy, in 



132 



CONVERSION OF 



being delivered from the spirit of bondage, 
into the glorious liberty of the children of 
God, he kindly suggested many cautions, 
which, from his acquaintance with the de- 
ceitfulness and corruption of the heart, and 
the temptations to which every Christian is 
exposed, he knew, and I afterwards found 
to be very necessary. Since that period, I 
have experienced many varieties, both in 
my external circumstances, and in the state 
of my mind ; but I bless God, I have never 
lost that stable peace, which I then, for the 
first time enjoyed, and which rests on the 
efficacy of that blood of sprinkUng, which 
cleanseth from all sin. 

" In this state of mind, after having been 
at home for some time, and having lost 
my wife, I went to join my regiment, then 
at Gibraltar. There I certainly felt myself 
very desolate, having no Christian friend 
with whom I could converse. At last, 
some of our officers, who had been home, 
on leave of absence, returned to the Rock; 
and one day after their arrival, they were 
entertaining us at the mess with an ac- 
count of their voyage. They told us what 
a jovial set of fellows they had. There 
was Captain , and Colonel , etc. ; 



A MEDICAL OFFICEIU 133 

but, said one of them, " we had one strange 
fellow on board, who would preach and 
pray to us all the way out.'^ This, in no 
small degree, excited my attention. I took 
a quiet opportunity of asking the officer 
who made this remark, if he knew who 
this strange fellow was. " Oh ! yes,'^ 
said he, " quite well. He is a missionary, 
just newly come to the Rock.'^ "Could 
you introduce me to him?'^ "Certainly. 
He is quite an easy good sort of man." 
The officer referred to soon called along 
with me on this, good missionary. I dis- 
covered that he was connected with the 
Wesleyan Society. I found a neat chapel 
with a dwelling house, in a nook of the 
Rock that I never saw before. We were 
kindly ret-eived by him, and invited to 
come again. I did so, and soon joined 
the society, as I found them the only peo- 
ple I could meet with in that quarter who 
understood my language, or could enter 
into my feelings. 

" Soon after this, I returned to England, 
and in London I met with Captain T — , 
who had just been appointed to a vacancy 
in the regiment. I saw him to be a most 
amiable and accomplished young man. I 
12 



134 



CONVERSION OF 



said nothing at first to him on the subject 
of religion, but gave him all the informa- 
tion I could respecting the regiment. On 
my return to Gibraltar I found him there ; 
and I then embraced a suitable opportu- 
nity of speaking to him about the salvation 
of the gospel, declaring my conviction, that 
there is no real happiness without it. I 
shall not easily forget his reply. Well 
said he, " there is certainly not much hap- 
piness to be got in this world. I think I 
have had my own share of it, and I am 
sure, it is hardly, after all, worth living 
for.^^"^ After this, I put various useful 

* This observation powerfully reminds us of the 
striking language of Lord Chesterfield, on the same 
subject. "I have run," says his lordship, "the silly 
rounds of business and of pleasure, and I have done 
with them all. I have enjoyed all the pleasures of 
the world, and consequently know their futility, and 
do not regret their loss. I appraise them at their 
real value, which is truly very low; whereas, those 
who have not experienced, always overvalue them. 
They only see the gay outside, and are dazzled with 
the glare. But I have been behind the scenes. I 
have seen all the coarse pulleys and dirty ropes 
which exhibit and move the gaudy machine. I have 
seen and smelt the tallow candles which illuminate 
♦he whole decoration, to the astonishment and admi- 



CAPTAIN — . 



135 



books into his hands. His mind was gra- 
dually impressed with Divine truth. I 
proposed that he should go to the Metho- 
dist chapel. " Oh ! but/^ he rephed, " what 
will they say I answered, " There is 
nothing for it, but fairly taking up the 
cross, and following the Saviour.^^ He 
did so, in the face of the jeers and ridicule 
to which he was exposed. Peace and joy 
soon dawned on his mind, and he explicitly 
declared that he never knew what true 
happiness was till then. 

"A short time after this, an incident 

ration of the ignorant multitude. When I reflect 
back on what I have seen, what I have heard, and 
what I have done, I can hardly persuade myself that 
all this frivolous hurry, and bustle, and pleasure of 
the world had any reality. I look upon all that is 
past as one of those romantic dreams which opium 
commonly occasions ; and I do, by no means, desire 
to repeat the nauseous dose for the sake of the fugi- 
tive dream. Shall I tell you that I bear this melan- 
choly situation with that meritorious constancy and 
resolution, which most people boast of? IsTo, for I 
really cannot help it. I bear it, because I must 
bear it, whether I will or not; and I think of nothing 
but killing the time, now he is mine enemy. It is 
my resolution to sleep in the carriage the rest of my 
journey." 



136 



CONVERSION OF 



occurred which put him severely to the 
test. Captain T — was a sort of favourite 
with the governor, and, as a token of par- 
ticular regard, was frequently asked to 
his private evening parties, where the time 
was spent in cards, etc. Captain T— now 
found that to spend time in such a way, 
was what he could not approve. Accord- 
ingly, to the note of invitation sent by the 
governor's aid-de-camp, he sent a polite 
refusal. Tliis astonished all concerned. 
They could not account for it, as they had 
no conception of the principles by which 
it was dictated. The note was handed 
round. It was made the subject of much 
talk, of much pity, and of much ridicule. 
But none of these things moved my es- 
teemed friend. He bore all with patience, 
maintaining a calm and dignified consist- 
ency in his Christian character; and in- 
stead of reviling again, when reviled, was 
disposed to pray for such as despitefully 
used and persecuted him. He remained 
in this state till he was obhged, on account 
of bad health, to return to his native land. 
Here, after remaining about twelve months, 
he died.'^ 



CAPTAIN T — . 



137 



The only additional information respect- 
ing Captain T — , is derived from his cor- 
respondence after he returned to England. 
A few extracts from his letters I here in- 
sert, and they will be found to indicate no 
common measure of attainment, both in 
point of Christian character and Christian 
enjoyment. 

After describing his voyage home to his 
friend, who was also his medical adviser, 
and whom he left at Gibraltar, he thus 
writes from Falmouth : — 

" I have told you much of my personal 
ill health, but I have said nothing to you 
of my spiritual joy. When I suffered 
from sickness on board, the Lord was 
truly present to comfort and bless me. I 
cannot describe the peace and happiness 
of my mind at that time ; it was full of 
ease, tranquillity, and comfort. In the in- 
tervals of rest I employed myself in com- 
posing prayers. When I finished one, I 
began another. I cannot tell you how the 
love of God is shed abroad in my heart, 
or the tenth part of my happiness and 
enjoyment. Since I left you, I have expe- 
rienced every thing in all circumstances as 
12" 



138 



CONVERSION OP 



if a person told me^ ' Make yourself easy 
and happy, and all things shall be to your 
wish.' I have found friends every where, 
and all things have been put into my hands, 
without the least trouble or exertion on 
my part. Indeed, I think myself the hap- 
piest man in the world. Every thing 
smiles. Oh that the world would believe 
and love Jesus ! Devote yourself entirely 
to so kind and gracious a Lord. You are 
not more than half devoted yet. Do the 
v/orld all the good you can ; but spend 
not a moment unnecessarily with them. 
Be much in meditating, secret prayer; live 
and walk with Christ, and you will be 
happy beyond conception. Tell Mr. P — 
from me, I believe him to be only very 
partially surrendered to God in Christ, in 
practical obedience. All the heart, life, 
property, etc., is required ; and he must 
give it all, or he cannot be truly happy 
and alive to his best interests. I tell you 
both, nothing more than I have done, 
though poorly and imperfectly.'^ 

In a subsequent letter he begins thus : — 

" To say that I have been much blessed 



CAPTAIN T — , 



139 



to this day, is saying but little of the mani- 
fest Divine love, care, and peace, which it 
has been my portion to enjoy since I wrote 
to you from Falmouth. However, words 
cannot express the happiness of a Chris- 
tian in sickness or in health. I humbly 
desire to ascribe all the great mercies I 
experience, to free grace, through Christ 
our glorious Redeemer.^^ 

To another correspondent he thus writes, 
after having gone for a time to St. Roque, 
near Gibraltar, for the recovery of his 
health : — 

" The first thing I did on taking pos- 
session of my rooms, was to praise God 
for his goodness, and to ask his blessing ; 
and I found my heavenly Father present 
to hear and comfort his unfaithful servant. 
He filled my mind with sweet and de- 
lightful peace. I sometimes think how 
the world and I shall agree if I get strong 
again. We were never at such a distance 
as we have been' lately. Every thing is 
felt by me to be vanity of vanities. 

"Your little church has my prayers, 
that you may see true piety, peace, and 



140 



CONVERSION OP 



love, flourish more purely than in former 
days in your congregation. I cannot well 
be restrained by the rules of frigid pru- 
dence, in matters of eternal moment. All 
persons have my warm love for their true 
interest, whatever construction they may 
put upon my actions. I have delightful 
views of heaven, seeing what a world of 
trouble I shall leave in leaving the earth. 
If a person do not labour, he can have no 
fruit. Labour and enjoyment go hand in 
hand.^' 

When he entered his mother's house, 
he requested them to unite with him in 
prayer ; and thus observes : — 

"When you advised me to establish 
family prayer, that it would be useful to 
the family, little did I think it would be 
useful to my own soul ; but I have proved 
it to be so. Oh ! how happy am I ! the 
air, the trees, and every thing smiles on me. 
There is a charm in every thing I see. 
Oh ! the happiness of the mind, full of 
peace and the riches of Divine grace/^ 

Again he says : — 



CAPTAIN T . 



141 



"My sickness is scarcely an inconve- 
nience to me. I am full of the love of 
God, and can leave earth without an in- 
clination for any thing in it. My pros- 
pects beyond the grave are delightful, 
cheering, and bright: and though my 
wishes would often incline me to depart, 
and be with Christ, yet I have no desire 
either to live or die ; I am sunk into the 
Divine will. The reason why people do 
not enjoy religion, is because they will not 
implicitly follow their Lord and Master, 
and they make a thousand excuses, as no- 
thing ought to prevent their carrying their 
cross boldly against the whole world.'^ 

Referring to the period of his change, 
Captain T — thus writes : — 

"Having resolved to give my whole 
heart to God in Christ, and used the means 
which my Bible pointed out, the Divine 
blessing attended my endeavours. Moun- 
tains of apparent difficulties and imaginary 
fears vanished. I found myself, in about 
three or four months, walking in ways of 
pleasantness, and had peace and joy in be- 
lieving. My soul v/as at length filled, and 



142 



CONVERSION OF 



perfectly satisfied ; and the great end of 
life, which before had appeared to me a 
perfect riddle, was now clearly unfolded. 
Though I know not the exact time when 
I passed from a state of nature to a state 
of grace, from a state of darkness to a state 
of light, yet I felt that I had experienced 
the new birth ; I had a sense of the remis- 
sion of my sins, and enjoyed a happiness 
which I did not formerly think to be pos- 
sible, and of which I had not the least ex- 
pectation. During this period, I had some 
hard struggles with worldly interest, fleshly 
reasonings, the maxims of fashion, and the 
opinions and conduct of friends whom I 
much esteemed. But I reflected, that if I 
rendered imphct obedience to the com- 
mands of God, he would assuredly make 
me a conqueror over all ; and I have found 
him ever faithful to his word. The lead- 
mgs of Providence, whether in reference 
to religious or civil exercises, when pur- 
sued with an entire and implicit faith in 
my Saviour, have always been followed 
by a corresponding degree of spiritual 
growth and blessing.'^ 

Of the reality and magnitude of the 



CAPTAIN T . 



143 



change which had been divinely accom- 
pHshed in Captain T — , the following ex- 
tracts will afford satisfactory indications: — 

" For some months, my kind and gra- 
cious Master has given me constant peace 
and joy in beheving. How easy are his 
heavenly commandments, when the Spirit 
of God witnesseth with our spirits that we 
are his children ! Filial love, and reve- 
rential fear, can do all things. This I 
speak from experience. My heart is en- 
larged to go to the house of the Lord. 
Though my private devotions are answer- 
ed with the smiles of my God, yet I have 
found greater tokens of his approbation 
and favour in the public means of grace. I 
can truly say, that it is my meat and drink 
to do my heavenly Father's will. I can 
pray for my enemies with delight. Oh, 
what happiness is this ! The life I now 
live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the 
Son of God. I find that I can do all things 
through Christ strengthening me. I cannot 
look back on former years without lamen- 
tation, when I consider of how much hap- 
piness I have deprived myself, by parley- 
ing with sin and the world so long. But 



144 



CONVERSION OP 



mercy-j infinite mercy, has found me out ; 
and I am saved by grace. I find it neces- 
sary to be constantly on the watch-tower 
of faith, hope, and love ; and constantly 
depending on my Saviour, I am enabled 
to begin, continue, and end all my prayers 
with, " Thy will be done/^ It is my ear- 
nest desire to be fully transformed into his 
lovely likeness, so that whether I eat or 
drink, I may do all to his glory. I count 
all things dross for the knowledge of Christ 
my Saviour. Oh, may I be a living sacri- 
fice to Him who has redeemed my soul ! 
All my happiness is bound up in his glory. 
Oh the wonderful effects of grace ! Humi- 
lity has now superseded pride, which con- 
cealed itself in my heart, in so many ways, 
for several years. I now feel a pleasure 
in sitting at the lowest disciple's feet, to 
hear the wisdom of God, and to witness 
the triumphs of grace. The more eminent 
the piety of his saints, the more strongly 
and spontaneously is my love attracted to- 
wards them. 

" Oh, how great is the happiness I enjoy 
in this implicit trust and daily dependence 
on God ! Oh, what free grace and abun- 
dant mercy are displayed to me a sinner ! 



CAPTAIN T — . 



145 



The Christian's Hfe, I see, is altogether a 
life of faith. Who can know the constant 
happiness of an humble and self-denying 
believer ? Many there are who like the 
Christian's comforts, but they do not like 
to tread in his path, by sacrificing all they 
have to the glory of God. 

" On reviewing my spiritual state, I have 
exceeding great cause for thankfulness to 
God in Christ. I have a clearer discovery 
of my natural sinfulness, my nothingness, 
and my imperfections. This brings me 
low at my Saviour's feet ; and I see my- 
self to be an unworthy creature, deserving 
only hell, on account of my manifold sins ; 
yet am I a monument of his mercy, a sin- 
ner saved by grace. I bless my God, I 
am, and have been ever since my conver- 
sion, growing in grace. I have experienced 
a more stable peace, a more joyous love, a 
firmer faith, and a brighter hope ; and now, 
thanks be to my heavenly Father, my hea- 
venly mindedness is more constant. My 
experience is not dark and gloomy ; neither 
do I find in the New Testament that the 
believer is in that state, or can be so, 
whilst he lives near to God, and exercises 
a lively faith in Christ." 

13 



146 CONVE«RSION OP 

A few weeks before his death, Captain 
T — was visited by the Rev. John Piggot, 
a clergyman of the Episcopal church. The 
following is an account of his interview 
with him, and some of the expressions that 
occurred on that occasion : — 

" He was apparently in the last stage of 
a consumption ; but exceedingly happy in 
God. After a little conversation, he took 
me by the hand, and, with the most ex- 
pressive countenance, addressed me in 
nearly the following words — ' Mr. Piggot, 
I am very happy to see you ; I have long 
wished to see you, that I might tell you 
what God has done for my soul. When I 
review the past, I am filled with astonish- 
ment at the goodness of God ; and, be it 
spoken to the glory of his grace, I am lost 
in love and praise. Several years I tra- 
velled in different parts of our own enlight- 
ened country, a stranger to myself, and to 
that God whom I ought to have loved and 
served. But, oh ! how signally was the 
mercy of God displayed in sending me to 
Gibraltar ! Here I found Him whom my 
soul loves. Yes, sir,' he exclaimed, with 
peculiar emphasis, ' my soul loves the Lord 



CAPTAIN T — . 



147 



Jesus. I feel that I am justified, and have 
peace with God, through faith in his blood. 
I have not lost a sense of his presence, nor 
of his favour, a moment for twelve months 
past. I have no particular desire to leave 
this suffering flesh ; no, I am perfectly con- 
tent to suffer all the will of God ; yet I feel 
that to depart, and be with Christ, would 
be far better.^ After commemorating the 
dying love of the adorable Redeemer, 
though he was almost exhausted, and 
could hardly articulate so as to be heard, 
yet, with eyes bathed in tears of gratitude, 
and a heart overflowing with love to God, 
he said, ' Once more have I been permit- 
ted to enjoy this blessed privilege on earth, 
perhaps for the last time.^ After sitting 
silent a few minutes, looking at me with 
streaming eyes, he said, ' sir, I have 
more than heart can wish : here are my 
mother, my sister, my brothers, and the 
servants all uniting their study and endea- 
vours to make me happy ; but the best of 
all is, God is with me ; I feel him with me 
now.^ Under the influence of these evan- 
gelical sentiments, and in this heavenly 
frame of mind, he was, when I took my 
leave of him.'' 



148 



CONVERSION OF 



I have introduced a greater number of 
these extracts than I at first intended ; but 
I am persuaded they will be most accept- 
able to every Christian reader. For some 
of them I am indebted to a memoir of 
Captain T — , which, at the time of his 
death, was published in one of the period- 
icals of the day ; and as the writer of it 
had access to this excellent man's private 
journal, he was enabled to give a fuller 
account of his Christian attainments than 
could be derived from any other source. 
My inducement to extend these extracts, 
is not only that they contain the language 
of a gentleman in the army, and thus cor- 
respond with the design of this volume, 
but as they present so high a degree of 
spirituality of mind, they are fitted to be 
useful. 

It is to be hoped, that many who can- 
not use the same strong language, and are 
strangers to such exalted feelings of sacred 
joy, are not less sincere in following the 
Saviour, though with very unequal steps. 
But it is useful to contemplate such exam- 
ples ; they are fitted both to humble and 
stimulate : — to humble Christians in gene- 
ral, under the inferiority of their own at- 



CAPTAIN T — . 



149 



tainmeiits, and to stimulate them to greater 
zeal, watchfulness, and activity, and to in- 
creased fervency in prayer, when they see 
what has been attained, even in modern 
times, by men of like passions with them- 
selves. Mrs. More somewhere remarks, 
that no one is likely to shoot high, who 
does not aim at a high mark. Let every 
Christian, then, forgetting the things that 
are behind, and reaching forth to those 
things that are before, " press toward the 
mark for the prize of the high calling of 
God in Christ Jesus/^ 



13* 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 



The following case is communicated by 
an esteemed minister : 

It was during a short voyage, that I 
became acquainted with Joseph Hughes, 
a Serjeant in the 93d regiment of High- 
landers. 

My attention was first arrested by his 
sickly aspect. He was about twenty-six 
years of age, and, when in health must 
have had a manly appearance; but his 
body was now enfeebled, and his counte- 
nance pale and wan. There was, never- 
theless, in his eye, to which his insidious 
disease gave more than natural brightness, 
an expression of intelligent resignation. 
There was no impatience in his demeanour, 
yet no insensibility. There was calmness, 
but no hardihood. It struck me he was 
not only peacefully resigned, but had good 
reasons for being so. 

This I ventured to hope : yet I could 
not repress the inquiry, " What if unpre- 
150 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 151 



pared to meet his God ? He is evidently 
on the borders of another world. In a 
few days, perhaps, his state for eternity 
will be unalterable. To-day, however, it 
may be altered. The case is pressing; 
how shall I act ?" 

While I thus pondered, perhaps in guilty 
hesitation. Providence removed every ob- 
stacle to the accomplishment of my half- 
formed purpose ; for, in passing through 
the cabin towards the deck, I saw the Ser- 
jeant reading a Testament ! My heart 
bounded, and I gave joyful thanks to God. 
I soon joined him, and the agreement of 
our feelings soon showed that we loved 
the same Saviour. 

He informed me, that in early life, 
although not blessed with religious pa- 
rents, he had possessed the privilege of 
receiving the instructions of a faithful Sab- 
bath school teacher. 

I inquired if these were the means of 
leading him to the Saviour. 

"Yes,^^ he answered, "they were the 
first means that were used, and I think 
they were the most efiectual.^^ 

" Was your heart impressed while at 
school I asked. 



152 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 



" Oh, not in the least/^ he answered, 
"or, perhaps, I should have reflected 
longer before I exposed myself to the 
temptations of a soldier^s life. I was a 
Sabbath scholar at the time I enlisted.'^ 

"Strange!'^ I observed, "that while 
wandering so far from home, and while 
mixing so young with all your irreligious 
comrades — with no friend to counsel or 
guard you — strange that these truths were 
not driven from your mind 

" Ah ! but,'^ said he, his whole counte- 
nance glowing with emotion, "my Sab- 
bath school teacher never forgot me ! 
Many a time the expression of his earnest 
desire reached me when in foreign lands ; 
often he added short sentences to my 
father's letters, the whole of which, in- 
deed, he often wrote, begging me to care 
for my soul. Often, often these entreaties 
were repeated; and, like one drop after 
another upon the hard stone, they left 
marks behind them.'' 

" And you were softened at last ?" 

" Ay, sir, at last. I had a kind teacher, 
and a still kinder Saviour. For the Sa- 
viour saw that I should resolutely stand 
out against him, while I remained in the 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 153 



company of my thoughtless comrades. So 
he took me aside — he left me alone. There 
happened to be a small station in one of 
the West India islands, which required 
only a few soldiers, and I was appointed 
to it. It was a dreary place. It was a 
wilderness. But it blossomed like the 
rose before I left it. I began, almost as 
soon as I came to it, to reflect very much ; 
and as I reflected, I began to get uneasy. 
I thought much of the shortness of life, 
and the coming of a day of judgment ; 
and these thoughts, along with the dul- 
ness of the station, made it more agreeable 
than otherwise to read my Bible. I always 
thought the Bible was dull, and I guessed 
that it would just suit me. So it did : but 
in a diff'erent way from what I expected. 
Every verse I read brought some recol- 
lections of the sabbath school; and the 
more my mind was filled with such 
thoughts, the more miserable I became. 
The truth is, my case could not bear ex- 
amination. God and I were opposed to 
each other: how could I be otherwise 
than wretched ? 

" There was a small company of pious 
soldiers who met together for religious 



154 THE DYING SOLDIER. 

conversation, and kept some religious 
books for lending to their fellow soldiers. 
They were stationed in another island, 
and to them I wrote, begging the loan of 
a book. This request they joyfully com- 
plied with ; and they did more than this, 
for they sent me a little encouragement. 
Oh, precious words ! They were like cold 
water to a thirsty soul ? It was strange, 
that before this time, although I had often 
heard of Jesus Christ, I never saw his in- 
finite value to a sinner. Every prayer I 
offered ended 'for Jesus' sake,'' yet the 
truth never struck me after all. 

" Now I began to see that unless Jesus 
had died, all expectation of mercy was 
vain, and the very hope that a holy and 
just God would ever bless a sinner, had 
something awfully presumptuous in it : it 
was hoping that God would lie, and act 
contrary to his whole character ; ' For he 
is of purer eyes than to behold evil,' Hab. 
i. 13; and Uhe soul that sinneth, it shall 
die,' Ezek. xviii. 4. But when I saw that 
the Saviour died, then came the beauty of 
the words, 'The Lord, the Lord God, 
merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity, 
transgression, and sin.' Oh, the lovely 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 155 



plan ! God is honouredj and the sinner 
saved, hy the same Redeemer. For Christ 
hath ^magnified the law/ and ^he who 
believeth in him shall never be ashamed.' 

After hearing this pleasing account, I 
became desirous to know how far the 
reason which soldiers often give for not 
bearing the Christian profession, was a 
just one. I therefore asked, if he found 
it difficult to make known his Christian 
character, after being removed to a more 
populous station. 

He frankly said, that, at first, he had 
great difficulty; "for,'' observed he, "I 
was proud, and could not bear to be 
looked down upon, and considered weak. 
But I could not help going forward, and 
soon the jokes grew old, and the jeers less 
frequent, and I was at last allowed to take 
my own way." 

"You do not think, then," I added, 
" that there are serious obstacles to a Chris- 
tian profession in the ranks." ; \ \ 

" Oh, no ! nol True, if a man be in- 
sincere, if he appear religious just to please 
his superior officer, or so, he is sure to be 
made wretched : and a real Christian, if 
he is inconsistent, will be wretched too ; 



156 THE DYING SOLDIER. 

for the soldiers are always on the watch. 
But let a man show that love to Christ 
rules his whole conduct ; let him be ho- 
nourable, and regular, and obliging, and 
he is sure to be respected. He may some- 
times be falsely accused, and dealt un- 
fairly with; but his patience will outlive 
that : and the more opposition he outlives, 
not only the more strength does he get to 
his soul, but the more respect he gets 
from ungodly companions. Oh that every 
soldier were but a Christian !" 

Thus our short, but interesting conver- 
sation closed. It was Saturday night on 
which it was held. On the next day the 
weather was uncommonly fine, and our 
vessel reposed quietly on the water, which 
w*as nearly calm. In these favourable 
circumstances we assembled on deck to 
worship God. A Bible was placed on the 
companion,^ which had been covered with 
a large flag, and a considerable number 
of soldiers and sailors, and others, gathered 
reverently around it. We offered fervent 
prayer, that this peaceful Sabbath might 

* A sort of wooden perch placed over the stair- 
case of the master's cabin. 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 157 

prove a true spiritual rest to all our souls ; 
and when we lifted up our voices^ one 
might have supposed that the smooth 
waters rejoiced to be the bearers of our 
praise to their great Creator. When the 
Scripture was read, solemnity was added 
to the calm ; for the thoughtfulness well 
became us all when we heard it said of 
the Divine Saviour of guilty men, "He is 
despised and rejected of men — he was de- 
spised, and we esteemed him not/^ Isa. 
liii. 3. Oh may the pages of God's book 
of remembrance reveal, that some one on 
that occasion, and some one while reading 
these pages, ceased to reject, and began to 
love the Saviour ! 

Immediately after the close of the ser- 
vice, the sails of our vessel, urged by 
gentle breathings of wind, began to strike 
the masts. Soon the breeze filled them. 
It came from a favourable direction, and 
afforded gratification to all. The coinci- 
dence between the conclusion of our wor- 
ship, and the commencement of the favour- 
able breeze, seemed, I thought, to dispose 
several who were not previously so in- 
clined, to read some tracts with which 
they were supplied, so that, during the 
14 



158 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 



remainder of the day, the deck was scat- 
tered with open tracts, and enhvened by- 
animated countenances. 

The Serjeant was not upon deck. The 
air was too strong for his weakened lungs. 
I therefore hastened to his cabin, to give 
him information of our services, as I 
thought he would be pleased to know 
that others had enjoyed a privilege, al- 
though it was denied to him. But I was 
mistaken in this latter particular, for as I 
turned to descend, there sat the serjeant 
upon the cabin stairs ; and there he had 
been during all the service. The exertion, 
however, of sitting, and the slight excite- 
ment which his feelings had experienced, 
made him extremely weak, and he retired 
to rest. 

On my return shortly afterwards, he 
said, "I have an uncommon thirst to-day.'' 
Misunderstanding him, I said I would 
procure some water ; when he answered, 
" It is not that water, it is heavenly water 
that I need. I long to be filled with the 
riches of Jesus Christ. Without Him I 
have no happiness, and without all I can 
obtain from Him, I cannot feel satis- 
fied.'' 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 



159 



I inquired if he had much enjoyment in 
the presence of his Saviour. 

" Yes/^ he answered, " when this weary 
body does not weaken; but much is the 
pain I suffer because of the seasons when 
my thoughts lag far behind. This is my 
greatest affliction, my great sin. It dis- 
tresses me much.^' 

I observed, tliat perhaps it should not 
be called a sin, because God had weakened 
his body ; and if we loved him with all our 
strength, even when small, it was all that 
he required. As I had not done so before, 
I ventured to ask whether he thought that 
he should soon see "Jesus as he is,'' in a 
higher world ? 

" Oh, yes,'' he replied ; " I am nearly 
gone to him." 

" The prospect," I remarked, " must be 
pleasing, for then we shall ' love him as 
we ought.' " 

" Ah, yes," he said ; " but how feeble is 
my faith !" 

I observed, "We may draw happiness 
from the thought, that both what we suffer, 
and the length of time that we do suffer, 
depend on the perfect will of God." 

" man !" (a common expression with 



160 THE DYING SOLDIER. 



the Scotch, when the magnitude of the 
feeUng exceeds every smaller distinction,) 
^' Oh man!" with great energy he ex- 
claimed, " that is it ; that is just my resting- 
place. I am here because my heavenly 
Father wishes me to be here ; I sulfer be- 
cause he wishes it ; and I shall die when- 
ever he gives the word. Sweet repose I 
have on that truth. 

The ingenuousness and humility dis- 
played by this trembling, but true believer, 
were very pleasing. He had no rapturous 
feelings : but he had the spirit of adopt- 
ion,^^ whereby he could call the great 
Sovereign of all, his Father; and upon 
the mere Avill of this Sovereign Father, he 
was contented to repose. Truly, if a sol- 
dier implicitly submits to the mere will of 
his commander, well may a Christian sub- 
mit to his God. He is possessed not only 
of unquestionable authority, but of perfect 
love. " Oh, what a blessed thing it is to 
lose one's will !" said another Christian. 

Since I have lost my will, I have found 
happiness. There can be no such thing as 
disappointment to me ; for I have no desire 
but that God'swill may be accomplished.''" 
* Payson. 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 



161 



The breeze which we received at noon 
increased to a gale as the night approach- 
ed. It drove us rapidly before it, until 
early on the second day, having completely 
spent itself, we were left becalmed and 
motionless, within sight of our haven. The 
morning was extremely beautiful, and 
peace and gratitude were shed over our 
spirits. 

Having now resumed his usual military 
habit, the Serjeant came and reclined his 
feeble frame upon a seat on the deck, and 
expressed feelings of lively gratitude for 
his present peaceful circumstances. While 
viewing with much interest the different 
objects around him, and while his atten- 
tion was directed to two lofty peaks which 
indicated the place of his nativity, a gen- 
tleman on board, whom I knew to be un- 
acquainted with Christian feeling, being 
attracted by his sickly and intelligent ap- 
pearance, kindly said to him, 

" You must be happy indeed to see your 
native hills again, my friend 

Slowly turning his pale countenance, he 
said, calmly and pleasantly, " No, sir ; I 
shall have done with them all soon.'^ 

Strange was the look of mingled sur- 
14 ^ 



162 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 



prise and suspicion, which the gentleman 
sent towards me, while he seemed to say. 
Can this be true 

Yes, it was true ! With perfect collect- 
edness could he contemplate death. Sound 
reason had he to expect a peace more calm, 
more grateful to the wearied spirit, than 
any that the earth affords. His conversa- 
tion was in heaven ; and this incident 
proved that his feeUngs were so near akin 
to those of the purified and the perfect, 
that lie had already ranked the scenes 
of this world among the "former things'' 
which had passed away," Rev. xxi. 4. 
Reader ! you cannot but wish that your 
latter end may be like his. then begin, 
as he did, by carrying your sins to the 
Saviour ! 

In a short time we crossed the bay in 
which our vessel was anchored, and landed 
within a few miles of the Serjeant's house. 
I was unsuccessful in procuring a seat in 
the stage suited to his weak frame, and he 
therefore was seated on the top. As with 
some effort, I stretched my hand upwards 
to bid him a last farewell, the thought was 
natural, " My friend will soon, soon be ex- 
alted far above all the attentions of any 



THE DYING SOLDIER. 



163 



friend on earth.^' Speedily was this ac- 
complished ! Fourteen short days after- 
wards he left the world ! 

x\fter having seen his parents, who were 
anxiously waiting his arrival, his solicitude 
speedily turned towards his former Sabbath 
school teacher. He was the only Chris- 
tian friend he had in his native land. He 
was the one on earth, whom he especially 
longed to see ; for kind as were his pa- 
rents, they could not, alas ! at that time, 
sympathize with his Christian feelings. 
His teacher still lived, and he still loved 
his now Christian pupil, but he lived at a 
distance, and at this time he was confined 
by sickness, so that the last and fondest 
earthly wish of the dying soldier was not 
gratified. " Nevertheless,'^ says the kind 
teacher, " I did not forget him, but wrote 
to him, and encouraged him to ' hold fast 
the beginning of his confidence firm unto 
the end ;' and his last message to me was, 
' All my hopes rest upon Jesus, who died 
for my guilty soul.' " 



HISTORY OF 



CORPORAL MURRAY, 
OF THE FIFTH KEGDIENT, U. S. INFANTRY. 

ABRIDGED FROM A TRACT, PUBLISHED BY 
THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. 

James Murray was a native of Ireland. 
His parents resided a few miles from Bel- 
fast, and were in very respectable circum- 
stances in life. There he received the rudi- 
ments of a good education, as it was the 
wish of his parents to establish him in 
some mercantile employment. 

In religious belief they were followers 
of the Romish church, and they trained 
their children in the same faith. From his 
school, where he had acquired some know- 
ledge of the Latin and Greek, he was sent 
at an early age to Belfast, where his bro- 
thers were then engaged in profitable busi- 
ness. There he was apprenticed to an 
apothecary, with whom he remained three 
years. From that station he was sent to 
164 



HISTORY OF CORPORAL MURRAY. 165 

the College of Physicians and Surgeons at 
Glasgow, Scotland ; but he remained there 
only a short period, when, without the 
knowledge of his parents, he shipped for 
America. The reasons which induced 
him to take this rash step are not now 
known with certainty. It is probable that 
among them were a roving spirit and the 
flattering hope of accumulating wealth. 
In this last he was disappointed ; but his 
failure may have been the means of secur- 
ing to him an eternal treasure. 

In company with another^ soon after 
reaching Canada, he opened in Quebec a 
store of drugs and medicines, of which he 
had considerable knowledge. 

Not succeeding in this business, discou- 
raged and heart-broken, he wandered from 
place to place, a stranger in a land of 
strangers ; and at length, wishing to forget 
his folly, his parents, and his native coun- 
try, he enlisted as a soldier in the United 
States army at Boston, in the year 1830. 

Removed to the wild frontier, a thou- 
sand miles west from the place of his en- 
listment, exposed to temptations in every 
form, and wishing to cast oblivion over his 
past life, he often indulged in the most 



166 



HISTORY OF 



brutal intoxication. Frequent exposure 

and hardships, brought upon himself by 
that course of utter folly, soon undermined 
his strong constitution, and planted the 
seeds of disease which has so early termi- 
nated his life. Yet the intelUgence and 
skill of ^Murray soon drew the attention 
of his officers, and he was promoted to the 
rank of corporal. 

It was in the autumn of 1S32 that my 
personal acquaintance with Corporal Mur- 
ray commenced. Company " A arrived 
at Fort Brady in October of that year. 
They had heard of the blessed outpouring 
of the Spirit of God which we had enjoyed 
the winter and spring previous ; that most 
of the officers of that post, and many of the 
enlisted men, had been converted, and had 
publicly professed their faith in Christ ; 
that ardent spirits had been entirely ex- 
cluded from the Fort ; and that most of 
the men had also given up the pernicious 
beer. 

Their curiosity was of course excited 
about these " strange things.^^ For a time 
they watched cautiously the influeitce of 
these temperance measures and prayer 
meetings upon the character of soldiers; 



CORPORAL MURRAY. 167 



but soon some of them were led to wish 
they could share the happiness they saw 
their companions in arms enjoying. They 
were convinced that there is a joy in the 
duties of piety which they had never ex- 
perienced^ and that the reUgion of Christ 
is fitted to bless men in every condition 
in Ufe ; that it can give comfort in the bar- 
racks as well as in the quiet dwelling ; in 
the camp as well as in the cottage ; on the 
wild frontier as well as in the peaceful vil- 
lage. The first step in reform, with many 
of them, was to add their names to the 
Temperance Society. 

In that distant out-post, near where the 
magoificent Lake Superior empties its 
crystal waters through the broad, translu- 
cent river St. Mary, withdrawn from the 
more busy scenes of public life, and remo- 
ved from many of the temptations to drink, 
with which they had long been surround- 
ed, they found it comparatively easy to 
make the pledge of total abstinence, and 
to keep it. Corporal Murray was among 
the first in company " A that joined the 
Temperance Society. 

Being a Roman Catholic, he at first ridi- 
culed the reUgious meetings ; and instead 



168 



HISTORY OF 



of attending them, used to go to the quar- 
ters of an Irish family next door, and pass 
the time which we devoted to tiie worship 
of God, in card playing. While we beg- 
ged the Lord to forgive them, we could 
hear their fearful oaths and senseless laugh. 
In profaneness, I am told, he had then 
hardly his equal in the camp. One night 
he was determined to break up our pray- 
ing by his oaths and noise. In this he did 
not succeed. Afterwards, when.he looked 
back on that scene with shame and grief, 
he said : " I did not know what I was 
doing.'^ 

I was first led to inquire the name of 
this man, by seeing his manly form and 
generous features regularly at church on 
the Sabbath. And with great pleasure I 
learned that he had so far cast off the 
trammels of his Romish education as to 
listen with a degree of interest to the word 
of God. 

Besides attending the public worship on 
Sabbath, he was at length brought into the 
Bible Class. The pleasing, solemn scenes 
of that post-school-house, where we studied 
together " the glorious Gospel of the bless- 
ed God,'' many will never forget. The 



CORPORAL MUtlRAY. 169 



truths there heard^ I doubt not, will prove 
to many a " savour of life unto life and 
thus be remembered to eternity. 

It was there the Lord convinced Murray 
of sin, and showed him that all the cere- 
monies of the Romish church were in vain 
to his salvation. For a time he thought if 
he became moral, broke off drinking, 
swearing and Sabbath breaking, and did 
what the world calls honourable, he should 
secure heaven ; but then he had not seen 
the depravity of his heart, his entire natu- 
ral pollution, and the necessity of the blood 
of Christ to cleanse from all sin. He long 
concealed his feelings, too proud to ac- 
knowledge that he was seeking peace from 
religion. Then he was loud in arguments 
and full of cavilling against the truth. But 
conscience would not sleep. It was as a 
fire shut up in his bones. He saw the 
operations of the Spirit on the minds of 
others. Some of his companions were re- 
joicing in the hope that God had forgiven 
their sins, and others were asking what 
they should do to be saved. 

In the spring of 1833 his feelings were 
such that he could conceal them no longer. 
He had been so opposed to religion that 
15 



170 



HISTORY OF 



his associates could hardly believe him 
sincere when he told them he was resolved 
to seek the Lord. Yet his deep solemnity 
and perseverance soon convinced them 
that he was not trying to deceive. 

With great pleasure I learned that he 
wished to be instructed in the way of hfe. 
With deep emotion he told me how con- 
scious he was of his lost condition^ and 
begged to know if there was mercy for 
such a sinner. He thought, he said, that 
he was willing to submit to God, but that 
God would not receive him. But the true 
reason why he was not accepted is con- 
tained in these words of Christ : " Ye will 
not come to me that ye may have life.'^ 

I knelt and prayed with him, begging 
the Lord to break the chains of sin, and 
deliver him from that device of Satan 
which has destroyed so many souls ; but 
he arose, with others in the same state of 
mind, yet unsubdued. For days they re- 
mained in this darkness, inclined to cast 
the blame of their impenitence on God. 
The difficulty was, that they yet depended 
on themselves, and feared to trust their all to 
Christ. They would not, like the sinking 
Peter, feel that there was no hope except 



CORPORAL 3IURRAr. 



171 



in the power and mercy of the Saviour, 
and cry confidently, " Lord, save ; I pe- 
rish They feared to trust their souls to 
Jesus. 

But, thanks to our almighty Saviour, they 
at length saw their error ; and some found 
peace and joy in believing. In one of our 
dehghtful Bible-Class meetings, corporal 
Murray hoped that his sins were forgiven ; 
and that, unworthy as he was, he had been 
accepted for Christ's sake. As he told me 
of his hope, my soul, that had travailed for 
him, rejoiced exceedingly, and I could 
have fallen on his neck to kiss him, when 
I looked upon him as created anew in 
Christ Jesus. In a brief time he was again 
surrounded with clouds and fears, until, 
while reclining one night on his bunk in 
the guard-room, and offering ceaseless 
prayer to be enlightened from above, he 
hoped he was truly renewed by the Holy 
Ghost. 

When I next met him, he said : I think 
I have good news for you and joy beam- 
ed in his countenance as he spoke. In 
describing that scene, he said : " The feel- 
ings of my heart remind me of that part 
of our Saviour's instructions to Nicodemus: 



172 



HISTORY OF 



^ Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must 
be born again. The wind bloweth where 
it hsteth, and thou hearest the sound there- 
of, but canst not tell whence it cometh, 
nor whither it goeth ; so is every one that 
is born of the Spirit.' '' I could not but 
rejoice in the hope that he had been thus 
born. 

The last Sabbath of April following he 
publicly professed his faith in Christ with 
several of his companions, and sat down 
to the table of the Lord with the little band 
of believers which had been gathered at 
this distant point, and which, eight days 
after, was scattered over this frontier, never 
again to meet as a church, till all who then 
partook worthily, shall meet in heaven, to 
feast at the great supper of the Lamb. 

Sixteen months have now passed since 
that solemn, pleasing day. With excited 
hopes and many fears for the lambs of the 
scattered flock, who were thrown into 
scenes of trial, in a few days from that 
event we landed at Chicago and entered 
the Fort. None entered it with a more 
healthful countenance or a firmer step 
than Corporal Murray ; but he is the first 
of that band of professed soldiers of the 



CORPORAL MURRAY. 173 



cross whose death we have been called to 
mourn. 

Though, after his arrival here, tempta- 
tion came in new and ever-varying forms, 
and on that accomit tenfold more danger- 
ous, yet, by the grace of God, he was 
able to resist and come off more than 
conqueror. 

Though, before conversion, he was 
notoriously and awfully profane, since 
then not an oath has been heard from his 
lips. Though before often intoxicated, 
and at times apparently past hope, he 
has since entirely abstained, not only from 
ardent spirits, but from wine, strong beer, 
and all inebriating drinks. He saw that 
these enemies had cast down many wound- 
ed; that the first drink generally broke the 
charm, and Avas followed by inevitable 
ruin; and his resolution never to touch or 
taste remained unshaken to the hour of 
death. By grace he was saved, through 
faith. 

Although, previous to his conviction of 
sin, a strong supporter of the Romish 
church, he has since looked upon it as the 
deceiver of the nations ; as " that man of 
sin, the son of perdition, who opposeth 
15* 



174 



HISTORY OF 



and exalteth fiimself above all that is called 
God, or that is worshipped ; so that he, as 
God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing 
himself that he is God/^ He deplored 
the influence of this faith over his native 
country, and feared that his parents were 
still enslaved in its iron fetters. 

Even the enemies of the faith in which 
he died are constrained to confess that, 
from the time of his making a religious 
profession he maintained an untarnished 
name. Sweet is the memory of the just. 

Though previous to his moral change, 
he thought that by his own good works, 
he could secure eternal life ; since then he 
has ever felt that all our righteousness is 
but filthy rags ; that he could be accepted 
of God only on account of the merits and 
atonement of Christ. 

As a Christian, he was meek and re- 
tiring, yet firm and unwavering. Where 
others fell to the fearful wounding of the 
cause of the Lord, he, sustained by grace, 
stood unshaken. Let who else would be 
absent from church, his place was regu- 
larly filled when not detained by duty or 
sickness. Rarely was he absent from our 
evening prayer meeting. And never was 



CORPORAL MURRAY. 175 



a word of accusation brought against Cor- 
poral Murray by brother or enemy. Yet 
he had sad occasion to weep over the 
backsliding of many around. When speak- 
ing of the inactivity and remissness of some 
professed Christians, I once said to him : 
" Do these things make you doubt the 
truth of rehgion He repUed with a 
pleasing firmness: " no, sir, no ; I have 
that within me that will not let me doubt.'' 
As a soldier, he was a pattern of faith- 
fulness and punctuality. Pleased to obey 
every command of his superiors, he was 
strict in requiring obedience from those 
whom it was his duty to command. 
Though educated for a very different sta- 
tion in life from that which he at last filled, 
in this he was contented and happy, after 
he had learned, from experience, the true 
source of peace of mind, in the service of 
the Lord. And in this he intended to re- 
main till he had kept his oath to serve the 
United States five years faithfully. Those 
years were fast passing away, and he was 
beginning to anticipate pleasure in civil 
life, as a teacher or farmer, when he was 
unexpectedly discharged from his warfare 
by death. From the army on earth we 



176 



HISTORY OF 



trust he has been transferred to the hosts 
of heaven; from the ranks of enUsted 
men, to the privileges of God's elected 
sons. 

On Thursday, September 11, Major W. 
came to inform me of his illness. " Cor- 
poral Murray said he, "and another 
man are very sick, and the physicians pro- 
nounce their disease cholera.'^ 

I hastened to the hospital and found the 
men in extreme pain. The features of 
Murray were ghastly ; his flesh seemed 
to have vanished ; the pain of his cramped 
Hmbs was severe, and a constant hiccough 
indicated a fearful stage of disease. 

His first remark, as I took his cold 
clammy hand,' was; "I believe I am 
about to leave you, Mr. 

" It may be so ; but I hope the Lord 
will please to spare you. How do you 
feel in this near prospect of death ?" 

" It does not look fearful,'^ he replied ; 
" I am not afraid to die." 

" Your confidence at this hour is in 
Christ, I trust.'' 

" In Christ only — only through his mer- 
its do I hope for acceptance." 

His incessant hiccoughing made it im- 



CORPORAL MURRAY. 



177 



possible for him to say much. After 
praying with him, asking only that the 
will of the Lord might be done, I tmnied 
to mark his feelings. His hands were 
still clasped and raised in the attitude of 
prayer, and his eyes fixed as if beholding 
glory, invisible to those around him. 

His actions and his words exhibited a 
cheerful resignation to the will of God. 
When allowed to quench his burning 
thirst with a spoonful of barley-water or 
a few drops of ether, he said to me : " This 
is a small allowance ; my heart is burning 
in me.^' 

"Yes,'^ said I; "but how enviable is 
your condition, compared with theirs, who, 
in the lake of fire, call in vain for a drop 
of water to cool their burning tongues.'^ 

"Yes, yes,^' he replied, "I hope that 
may never be my case.'^ 

Sabbath noon, one week from the day 
we had been present together at the com- 
memoration of the Saviour's death, I con- 
versed with him for the last time. Still 
his confidence w^as in Christ Jesus, with 
whom he hoped to reign forever and ever. 
In referring then to that last opportunity 
of communing with the people of God, 



178 



HISTORY OF 



and contemplating the prospects of soon 
meeting his ascended Lord at his table in 
heaven, he had strong consolation. Death 
was making rapid progress ; and the friend 
whose spiritual life I had watched with 
so much interest from the hour of his new 
birth, could hardly be aroused from the 
fearful sleep that was stealing upon him. 
At times he was in a measure delirious. 
After this interview he had no rational 
conversation with any one. In moments 
of mental wandering, however, he spoke 
of deliverance from sin ; and once, with 
great beauty and confidence, exclaimed, 
as though conscious of present pain and 
sure of speedy relief — " There ^s rest here- 
after: Pil go bail for it.'^ 

When I called on Monday morning, 
September 15, IS 34, he had just ceased to 
breathe ; he had '-fallen asleep.'^ 

"His languishing head was at rest — 
Its thinking and aching were o*er." 

It was pleasant to think, as I looked upon 
his noble features, silent in death, that his 
soul was now enjoying the society of the 
redeemed in heaven. 



CORPORAL MURRAY. 



179 



"Many die as sudden, few as safe.^^ 
Reader ! Would you meet death in peace ; 
would you shout victory as you enter the 
deep waters? would you triumph over 
death, the last enemy of the redeemed? 
Seek now an assurance that the Saviour is 
your friend. Be faithful and honest with 
yourself and your God. Repent, and be- 
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you 
shall be saved. 



ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER 

IN THE AMERICAN ARM. 

EXTRACTED FROM " THOUGHTS ON RELI- 
GIOUS Experience/^ by the Rev. 
A. Alexander^ d. b.'* 

The writer of the following narrative, 
is a young officer of high promise, belong- 
ing to the American army. It is a pleasing 
thing to find that men, who, by their pro- 
fession, are commonly far removed from 
the usual means of grace, are not beyond 
the reach of the divine mercy. It is much 
to be desired that both our army and navy 
should be supplied with a competent 
number of pious and exemplary chaplains; 
but this want seems to be very httle felt, 
and therefore is very imperfectly provided 
for. When men of either of these profes- 
sions embrace religion, they are commonly 
remarkable for the eminence of their piety, 

* Published by the Presbyterian Board of Publi- 
cation. 

180 



ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER. 181 

The fact is, that they are exposed to so 
much ridicule and opposition, that unless 
their religious impressions were strong, 
and their resolutions firmly fixed, they 
would not be able to stand up against the 
opposing current. 

This narrative will at least encourage 
the hearts of pious parents, who have 
sons in exposed situations, not to despair 
of their conversion, but to be incessant in 
their prayers, that God would graciously 
follow them with the strivings of his Holy 
Spirit, and in due season bring them to the 
foot of the cross. And may it not be a 
good opportunity to remind all praying 
persons, that in the variety of their inter- 
cessions, the young men in our army and 
navy should not be forgotten ? As long 
as such institutions are needed, they who 
are set for the defence of our country, by 
sea and land, should not be forgotten in 
the prayers of Christians and of the 
church.'^ 

" I entered the Military Academy in 
1S28. As was customary with my parents, 

* The Presbyterian Board of Publication have 
published a Manual of Devotions for the use of 
Soldiers and Sailors, 

16 



1S2 ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER 



I was furnished with a Bible, with the in- 
junction to read it often, and make it the 
rule of my Ufe. Like most other youths, 
however, I kept it in my trunk: and I 
blush while I say it, I do not believe that 
during the whole time I was there, four 
years, I took it out to read more than six 
times ; and then, probably, I had a desire 
to, if I did not actuall}^, conceal the act 
from my room-mates around me. How 
strange the aversion to that good Book, 
and yet how general this antipathy in the 
thoughtless around us ! I must confess, 
however, that though my aversion to it 
was strong, I had a firm belief in its truth, 
and though in such a body of young men, 
I could not, but now and then, hear an 
effort on the part of one or another around 
me, to convince himself of its untruth, yet, 
I must say, that I could never get rid of 
the fear of God in my heart, or of the firm 
conviction of the truth of his word. Still, 
however, I graduated an impenitent sin- 
ner ; and being let loose from scholastic 
restraint, and left to my own guidance, 
like most other youths under the same cir- 
cumstances, I followed the ways of plea- 
sure and worldly gratification. 



IN THE AMERICAN ARMY. 183 

After graduating, in 1S32, I went 
home. But, alas, how changed ! My fa- 
ther and brother had both gone during my 
absence, to that bourne from which no 
traveller returns. Their spirits had fled^ 
it is hoped to heaven, I did not see them 
in their dying hours; but their spirits, 
though gone, still spake. I was told of 
the anxiety they both expressed, just be- 
fore death, on my account ; and in parti- 
cular the reply of my father, to the ques- 
tion asked him, if he had any word to 
send me : ^No, only to read my letters,' 
was his reply. Yes, father, I have read 
those letters, and long shall they be trea- 
sured up in recollection of thy solicitude. 
But I must continue my narrative. Though 
the scenes at home, this visit, were im- 
pressive, yet they did not result in pro- 
ducing within me the conviction that I was 
a sinner. I left my home again as impe- 
nitent as I had come. This time my sister 
furnished me with a Bible, with the prayer 
written in it, that I ' would make it the 
rule of my conduct and the guide of my 
life.' As before, I stowed it away in my 
trunk ; thence scarcely, if ever at all, to 
come out. Probably for years together, I 



184 ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER 

did not so much as look into it, and during 
all this time, except when at home, I was 
as much a stranger to the church, as I was 
to the Bible. Indeed, what is more shame- 
ful, in 1836, 1, in some unaccountable way, 
lost my Bible ; so that, from that time till 
the latter part of the year 1838, or during 
an interval of two years, I was entirely 
without one : and during all this time, 
besides having no Bible, (I did not dream 
of buying one,) I was so situated, at least 
for much the greater portion of the time, 
that I could not have access to any church, 
I was serving with the army, against the 
Indians at the South, and every one knows 
how ill calculated an active life in the field 
is to produce serious impressions. Still, I 
may say, during all this time I had the 
fear of God before my eyes ; though not to 
such an extent as to cause me to love and 
serve Him, or to cut oif any of my darling 
pleasures. And yet how good the Lord 
was! Though I went on sinning, day 
after day, and was often thrown into dis- 
cussion with infidels around me, who 
strove their utmost to argue or laugh me 
out of what they would call my early pre- 
judices, and though I indulged in reading 



IN THE AMERICAN ARMY. 1S5 



infidel productions, Tom Paine's work 
among the number, yet still His Spirit 
would strive with me, and would not give 
me entirely over to my own devices. 

"I returned North in the fall of 1838, and 
again saw my widowed mother ; her who 
had nurtured, me with a Christianas care, 
and who had early instilled into me those 
rehgious principles and feelings, which, by 
the grace of God, had never been entirely 
lost to me, and to which under the same 
spiritual influence, I must attribute my 
having been kept from utterly falling away. 
I saw her again, exhibiting as before, the 
chastening influences of the religion she 
professed. The same calm and resigned 
countenance ; the same sweet smile of 
welcome, still showed the powerful influ- 
ence of the Holy Spirit upon her heart. I 
thought I could see the workings of her 
feelings in my behalf; and I could not but 
imagine that in every look she gave me, 
she offered up a prayer on my account. 

" I left her for a station North. I may 
say I went away this time with better 
feelings than I ever did before. I had had, 
by this time, some experience of the world, 
and had already thought of the nothing- 
16* 



186 ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER 



ness of its pleasures; and, besides, the 
calm, peaceful, and happy deportment of 
my mother, made me anxious to become 
a partaker also of religion. I went away 
with the firm determination of at least 
looking more into the Bible, and of thus 
taking the first step towards making my- 
self better. -Another sister, this time, on 
my leaving her, presented me with a Tes- 
tament. This, when I got to my station, 
I read, or attempted to read, every eve- 
ning. I tasked myself to one chapter. 
But a late return from a party, or ball, 
would cause me to defer it till the morn- 
ing ; and then if the breakfast bell should 
arouse me from my slumbers, I would 
neglect it till the evening. And so, be- 
tween the parties and balls, and indolence 
in the morning, my reading of the Testa- 
ment was very irregular. But still, I had 
a great respect for religion, and admired 
the truths of the gospel. I would always 
uphold good principles of conduct in those 
around me, and would as often reprobate 
those that were bad. But all my ideas of 
virtue were founded on a wrong basis. I 
beheved that it was in the power of every 
individual, of himself, to do good and 



IN THE AMERICAN ARMY. 187 



eschew evil. And, therefore, when I did 
see good principles in those around me, 
my admiration was upon the individual 
himself and not upon the Holy Spirit 
who restrained him ; and when I saw 
wickedness in those around me, my con- 
demnation, (and my self-righteousness 
could not make it too strong,) was upon 
the individual, and not upon the sin which 
impelled him. 

" But still, though I strongly criticised 
the conduct of others, upholding the good 
and denouncing the bad ; yet I felt that I 
was not a Christian, in the Bible sense of 
the term. I knew this from my utter in- 
ability to pray. On retiring, I had often 
attempted to realize the overshadowing 
presence of a God above me ; but all was 
hard, dark, and impenetrable. I could not 
realize the existence of an all merciful Sa- 
viour. During all this time, I regularly 
attended divine service, at least once a day, 
every Sunday. I was delighted to either 
hear or read a good sermon. But I heard, 
or read it, more with the feelings of a critic 
than of an humble follower of the lowly 
Jesus, desiring the sincere milk of the 
word. And so, whenever the preachei 



188 ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER 

expatiated upon the beauties of virtue, 
though I received pleasure from his dis- 
course^ yet I had none of the consciousness 
that virtue was to be followed because 
God had commanded it ; but because it 
seemed to be a necessary element in so- 
ciety ; and, perhaps, because its votary re- 
ciprocally recommended himself to society, 
by its pursuit. I recollect, in particular, 
that Dr. Chalmers's sermons afforded me 
great satisfaction. But the beautiful ima- 
gery in them, as well as his elegant dic- 
tion, probably pleased me quite as much 
as the truths he inculcated. 

" Things went on in this way, for nearly 
a year, when at the close of this time, I 
began to feel myself strongly tempted by 
the evil one, though, at the time, I did not 
attribute it to this unseen spirit. Probably, 
it is better to say, (to use the language I 
\vould have then used,) I was uneasy, dis- 
contented, looked at things awry, extract- 
ed more of the bitter than the sweet from 
the things and circumstances around me ; 
or, in other words, was extremely miser- 
able. I could experience no joy from the 
things of earth, and of the joys of heaven, 
1 knew nothing. 



IN THE AMERICAN ARMY. 189 

But thanks to a good and righteous 
God, he was pleased to let me into this 
state, to show me that all my hopes of 
happiness from earthly things were vain. 
I was in the act of throwing myself on the 
settee, when I carelessly took up the Bible, 
which happened to be lying near me. The 
first chapter I opened at, was the 1st Epis- 
tle general of Peter, chapter 1st. But how 
shall I describe my feelings, the moment I 
cast my eyes upon its pages ! My heart 
was melted into deep contrition. I felt the 
love of God shed abroad in my whole 
being. I was convinced that I had the 
Holy Spirit at work within me. I was 
affected to tears at his goodness. I wept 
like a child. I felt that I had been a sinn-er. 
My ingratitude came like a flood upon me. 
I was overcome with gratitude for his 
mercy. > It completely possessed my whole 
being. I rejoiced in the thought, that 
though I had been a wanderer from him, 
yet he was a good and kind Saviour, and 
was ready to forgive me all the injuries I 
had done him. I could indeed say, with 
deep conviction, as I read the passage 
which presented itself to me : ^ Blessed be 
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 



190 ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER 

Christ, which, according to his abundant 
mercy, hath begotten us again unto a Uvely 
hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 
from the dead/ Indeed, this whole chap- 
ter seemed to be perfectly adapted to my 
state. I recollect, in particular, the eighth 
verse was singularly pleasing to me. 
' Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom 
though now ye see him not, yet believing, 
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full 
of glory.' 

" Another remarkable circumstance con- 
nected with this display of divine good- 
ness, was, the wonderful acuteness of in- 
tellect I felt myself to have, in reading the 
word of God. And not only could I per- 
ceive things in the gospel that I never saw 
before, but I felt my whole character 
changed. I felt not only a strong love to 
God, but to every body around me. I 
could have wept upon the bosom of my 
bitterest enemy. Oh ! the joys of that mo- 
ment ! But, alas ! how vain and impotent 
are the attempts of man, unless the Holy 
Spirit of God remains with him. I recol- 
lect very well, that I thought I would go 
and see the minister, and tell him what 
had passed. But not acting up to the sug- 



IN THE AMERICAN ARMY. 191 

gestion immediately, I neglected it, and 
soon again, sad to say, I had relapsed into 
my former forgetfulness of the Lord. The 
fear of the ridicule of the world had been 
too strong for my faith, and I felt, too, that 
I could not yet give up the world, and de- 
clare myself on the Lord's side. But still 
he would not let me go. He would not 
give me up. I was removed shortly after- 
wards to another station, and here I can 
see the all gracious design of Providence 
in this change. I was by this means 
thrown into the society of several pious 
officers. One in particular, whom I valued 
very highly, and who, the very evening 
he conversed with me upon the goodness 
of God, in twice leading him back from 
signal relapses into sin, was seized with 
the fever, that in five days carried him to 
his grave, was in particular of great service 
to me, under the divine blessing, in con- 
firming me in my resolves to renounce the 
world, and cleave unto the Lord ; and so 
indeed were all the others. Suffice it to 
say, that not many months after I came 
among them, I openly proclaimed myself 
on the Lord's side, and sealed the cove- 
nant by partaking of the emblems of his 



192 ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG OFFICER. 

body and blood. And it is an additional 
source of happiness for me to state, that 
it was not long after, that the partner of 
my bosom also renomiced the world, and 
joined me in the race set before us in the 
gospel. 

" The foregoing narrative, I have thought 
would be of some interest to yoU. But if 
it serves no other purpose than to show 
you how good the Lord has been to me, 
it will answer its end." 



SOME ACCOUNT OF 



LIEUTENANT COL. ALEXANDER 
R, THOMPSON, 

OF THE UNITED STATES ARM. 

BY THE REV. JOHN KNOX, D. D., NEW YORK. 

Alexander R. Thompson was a native 
of New York, and a son of Captain Alex- 
ander Thompson, an officer who served 
with honour and reputation in the army 
of the revolution ; and subsequently died, 
in the service of the United States, at West 
Point, in 1809. 

The circumstances of his birth were fa- 
vourable to the formation of a taste for 
military life ; and his juvenile sports had 
all a bearing on the particular duties of 
that profession. He was ever fearless, en- 
terprising and adventurous j and was often 
in imminent peril. 

At an early age he entered the military 
academy at West Point, and at the age of 
193 17 



194 SOME ACCOUNT OF 



seventeen, upon the breaking out of the 
war of 1812, he received a heutenant's 
commission, and joined the army at the 
North. Subsequently, he passed through 
various successive grades of promotion in 
rank. His Hfe was one of action ; and 
into every scene, he brought a high-souled 
sense of honour, a spirit of devotion to his 
duty, and an energy, that dispensed bene- 
fit to his country, and won reputation to 
himself. 

At the siege of Plattsburgh, he, in com- 
mand of an hundred men, gallantly defend- 
ed a pass which the British troops endea- 
voured to force. When the army was re- 
organized on the peace establishment, in 
1815, he was retained in service; and 
every post where he was stationed, from 
the outlet of Lake Superior to the borders 
of the Sabine, and even to the fatal Ham- 
mocks of Florida, bore witness to the de- 
votion, enterprise and energy of this faith- 
ful servant of his country. In the autumn 
of 1836, Col. Thompson and his troops 
joined the army in Florida ; where he con- 
tinued to partake of the perils and hard- 
ships of the disastrous conflict raging there, 
until the 25th of Dec. 1837, when he fell, 



LIEUTENANT COL. THOMPSON. 195 



in battle with the Indians, at Okee-cho- 
bee 

The particulars of this closing scene of 
his life are sufficiently told in the official 
despatch of Col. Taylor^ his commanding 
officer. 

" It is due to his rank and talents, as 
well as to his long and important services, 
that I particularly mention Lieut. Col. 
Thompson of the 6th Infantry, who fell in 
the discharge of his duty at the head of 
his regiment. He was in feeble health, 
brought on by exposure to this climate 
during last summer, refusing to leave the 
country while his regiment continued in it. 
Although he received two balls from the 
fire of the enemy, early in the action, 
which wounded him severely, yet he ap- 
peared to disregard them, and continued 
to give his orders with the same coolness 
that he would have done, had his regi- 
ment been under review, or on any other 
parade duty. Advancing, he received a 
third ball, which at once deprived him of 
life. His last v/ords were — 'Keep steady^ 
men — Charge the hammock — Remember 
the regiment to which you belong,'^ 

" I had known Col. Thompson person 



196 



SOME ACCOUNT OP 



ally, only for a short time, and the more I 
knew of him, the more I wished to know, 
and had his life been spared, our acquaint- 
ance, no doubt, would have ripened into 
the closest friendship. Under such cir- 
cumstances, there are but few, if any other 
than his bereaved wife, mother and sisters, 
who more deeply and sincerely lament his 
loss, or who will longer cherish his me- 
mory, than myself.'^ 

Another officer who was present at the 
fatal scene, thus describes it — " The 6th 
regiment was gallantly led on by Col. 
Thompson. They sustained the whole fire 
of the Indians for some time, before the 
4th and 1st could come to their support. 
Colonel Thompson had that morning in 
a short and pithy address to his regiment, 
prepared them for the scenes of that day. 
He led them firmly on, and even after he 
had received two rifle balls in his breast, 
he still maintained that firm and decided 
manner so peculiar to him. A third ball, 
at once deprived him of life. 

I can hardiy conceive of a higher effort 
of heroic daring, than is here described. 
Before the din and excitement of battle 
had begun, firmly, at the head of his regi- 



LIEUTENANT COL. THOMPSON. 197 



ment, and they in advance of the other 
troops, to march through a deep morass, 
facing a savage and unpitying foe, prepar- 
ed, and waiting to give them a deadly re- 
ception ! 

Thus fell this gallant and heroic man, 
honoured and lamented of all. His escutch- 
eon without a tarnish — clear and bright. 

He fell, it is true, in battle. And what 
disciple of the Prince of peace does not 
long for tho day when men " shall learn 
war no more But, if defensive war is 
allowable ; and the genius of our govern- 
ment is not aggressive — if the forerunner 
of our Lord directed the soldiers of his day 
respecting their duty, and required not of 
them to renounce their profession — if our 
Lord himself commended the faith of a 
Roman centurion, and rebuked not his 
calling — I dare not say that the profession 
of arms is one which every Christian is 
called to abjure. 

In Col. Thompson's character there was 
a rare combination of excellence. The 
duties of the various relations of life were 
by him filled up with singular fidelity and 
felicity. As a son and a husband, he w^as 
tender and devoted. As a brother and a 
17* 



19S 



SOME ACCOUNT OF 



friend, he was greatly endeared. His mind 
was Avell balanced, and his integrity unde- 
viating. Enjoying the confidence of his 
superiors in rank, he had the respect of all. 
He was a man of most amiable disposition. 
He sought the welfare and the happiness 
of all around him. The very spirit of kind- 
ness dwelt within him. INIild and gentle, 
yet weighing matters fully, he was firm 
and decided. When conscience and duty 
urged, he never feared responsibility ; but, 
moved promptly forward. 

But, the crowning excellence of all, and 
that of which it best becomes me here to 
speak, was, that he was a man of God — a 
Christian — decided — devoted — consistent, 
and exemplary. Having long manifested 
a deep concern for the moral improvement 
of the men under his command, establish- 
ed schools both for the young and for the 
soldiers, and in various ways endeavoured 
to lead them to a profitable improvement 
of their leisure time, and lent his influence 
to the promotion of Sabbath schools, and 
kindred eff'orts to do good ; during the early 
part of 1S34, he was on furlough in the 
city of New York, at a time when consid- 
erable attention to religion existed. He 



LIEUTENANT COL. THOMPSON. 199 

was then constant and unwearied, and ear- 
nest in his attendance upon the means of 
grace. His mind was meditative and so- 
lemn. The Spirit of God was at work in 
his soul ; and after consideration, prayer, 
conference and counsel, having given his 
heart to God, his name in March, 1S34, 
was enrolled among the professed disciples 
of Christ. His deep humility, his self-re- 
nunciation, his love to the Saviour, and 
his overpowering sense of gratitude to 
God, manifested on that occasion, cannot 
easily be forgotten. Having performed 
this act, he retired to his home, and there, 
with her to whom he now felt himself 
bound by a new tie, on bended knees, 
poured out his heart in thanksgiving to 
God, who had preserved him in so many 
dangers, and had not cut him off while a 
stranger to his grace ; and implored help 
from on high to enable him to walk 
worthy of the profession he had made. 

And, from that day till the day of his 
death, his life abounded with the fruits of 
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ 
to the praise of the glory of his grace. His 
religion was living, active, and controlling. 
Indeed, my hearers, were I to spread out 



200 SOME ACCOUNT OF 



before you his example, it might well re- 
buke many of us, great as are our privi- 
leges ; and might serve us as a model. He 
loved his Church, her ordinances, her 
order, her members, and her ministry. His 
letters breathe throughout the spirit of 
piety, trust in God, and a deep and sub- 
dued resignation, and submission to his 
will. " I neither fear the climate,^^ saia 
he, " nor the savage, for my trust is on 
high.'^ " I make little calculation, leaving 
all things to God.^^ 

" I feel a confidence in the God in whom 
I trust ; and do not believe that he will for- 
sake me, in the time of trouble, or of dan- 
ger, for he is the God of battle.'^ 

" I shall strive to pursue the course of 
a Christian and a soldier, and leave the 
result to Him who controls all our desti- 
nies." 

His habits were strictly devotional. " I 
often leave the camp for the forest sanc- 
tuary, that I may worship God without in- 
terruption, and offer up my morning pray- 
ers." When at home, he was never known 
to omit family worship — and he was con- 
stantly in the habit of retirement for pri- 
vate meditation and prayer on the Sabbath, 



LIEUTENANT COL. THOMPSON. 201 

when not able to attend public worship. 
A minister of the gospel never visited his 
family, without being invited to offer a 
prayer before he left the house, when the 
servants also were called in to join the de- 
votional exercise. Often, and earnestly 
did he ask the prayers of God's people in 
this communion. 

He was a man of true Christian bene- 
volence — exerting his best skill and endea- 
vours, not only for the comfort, but for the 
moral and spiritual well-being of all 
around him. When stationed at posts 
where no opportunity of public worship 
was enjoyed, the command was invited to 
assemble, usually in the hospital, on the 
Sabbath, when reUgious exercises were 
performed, the Scriptures and a well se- 
lected sermon read, accompanied with 
suitable remarks. 

His standing duties on the morning of 
the Sabbath, were to visit the hospital, the 
sick in quarters, and the married families 
of the enlisted men, and dispense instruc- 
tion and admonition, place little books and 
tracts in the hands of the children, and re- 
commend to them the Sunday school. 
Many a time did he kneel by the pallet of 



202 



.SOME ACCOUNT OP 



the sick and dying soldier, and commend 
his precious soul to heaven's mercy. An 
exact disciplinarian, he nevertheless won 
the hearts of his men. He was in all res- 
pects, the soldier's friend, and a model to 
those whom God has placed in stations of 
influence. Often has he taken with him 
his wife and half a dozen men off duty, 
with a supply of Bibles, tracts and little 
books, and penetrated the lonely wilder- 
ness, and visited every hamlet, and left the 
messages of life, with words suited to a 
work so blessed. He combined the Mis- 
sionary with the soldier. His sentiments 
were these, " the force and example of a 
commanding officer are great with his men, 
and we have in all mildness and care, 
used this advantage to do the most good 
in our humble walk, and thus far we have 
great cause for thankfulness." 

Whilst stationed at Newport, Kentucky, 
opposite to Cincinnati, his command was 
taken over the river, regularly on the Sab- 
bath, to attend divine worship. One of 
the soldiers, a man of education and intelli- 
gence, became a sincere Christian, and 
joined the Presbyterian Church in Cincin 
nati, under the pastoral charge of the Rev 



LIEUTENANT COL. THOMPSON. 203 



Dr. Wilson. He avowed his first impres- 
sions to have been awakened by the uni- 
formly consistent and exemplary deport- 
ment of his commander, whom he had 
watched narrowly — at first, that he might 
find something to censure. 

In a recent letter he remarks, " I feel a 
greater desire at present to remain in the 
army, as I am impressed that with my 
rank, character and example, I may be the 
humble instrument of doing some good to 
my fello w man, in the station of the desti- 
tute, and private soldier.^^ Again, " I am 
surrounded by all the pomp and circum- 
stance of war, but the display of command 
presents but few attractions to me, except 
the conscientious discharge of my duty, for 
I am sensible that I prefer the humble and 
peaceful habits of the Christian, to all the 
noise and bustle of the man of the world — 
and can pray for those happy days, when 
war shall cease from the earth, and when 
men shall dwell together as brethren.'^ 
! soul of chivalry as he was, he had 
aspirings higher far, than for mere military 
renown. He sought for glory, honour and 
immortality — eternal life in the heavens 5 
and the love of Christ constrained him. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



Though I should be somewhat charsed 
with repetition, I cannot omit the oppor- 
tunity, before bringing this volume to a 
close, of calling the attention of the reader 
to the repeated illustrations that have oc- 
curred of the fact — that a great moral re- 
volution is produced on the minds of men 
by the gospel of Christ, and such as we 
find effected by no other means. 

Philosophers, in prosecuting any subject 
of investigation, are naturally anxious to 
collect facts, and the more extraordinary 
these are, they usually excite the greater 
interest. Now, facts are as necessary in 
the philosophy of mind as of matter. Here, 
then, is a fact established by numerous 
most unexceptionable witnesses, whose 
depositions have been stated in the pre- 
ceding pages. It is not easy to con- 
ceive a more complete change, a more per- 
fect transformation of character, than the 
transition from the sentiments, the feelings, 
the habits, the tastes, and desires of a gay 
204 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 205 

jT-oung officer, to those of a humble disciple 
of Jesus Christ ; and yet repeated instances 
of such a change have been brought before 
us. Let every reflecting reader then con- 
sider how these are to be accounted for. 
If the effect is admitted, it must have a 
cause ; and in order to be satisfied that we 
have found the right cause, two things are 
necessary. First, that it is one which is 
acknowledged to exist in the case in ques- 
tion ; and, secondly, that it is capable of 
accounting for the effect produced. 

Every one knows, that the most com- 
mon way of accounting for this effect, 
when the reality of the change cannot be 
denied, is to ascribe it to enthusiasm. But 
this is only a particular way of drawing a 
veil over a man's ignorance ; while it 
shows his desire, without openly avowing 
a disregard of sacred things, quietly to dis- 
miss the subject from the mind. It is one 
of those general terms which it is conve- 
nient to use, when a man wishes to be 
saved the necessity of forming or expres- 
sing some definite idea. 

In the first place, as this change is found 
in minds of every variety of temperament, 
it is quite gratuitous to suppose, that in 
18 



206 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



every case it exists at all. But, farther, ad- 
mitting it did, it will not account for the 
change produced. Enthusiasm may ac- 
count for some temporary impression, but 
it will not account for a complete change 
in the whole current of the soul, and that 
remaining steady for years, nay, continu- 
ing till the man who has experienced it, 
closes his eyes in death. Could we, with 
any tolerable semblance of truth, ascribe | 
the change on the apostle Paul, from 
being a cruel and bloody persecutor, to 
his becoming a preacher of the faith he 
endeavoured to destroy, to such a cause ? 
Would not every principle of sound rea- 
son revolt at such a conclusion ? Should 
we not be introducing a cause most mani- 
festly incapable of accounting for the 
effect ? And yet some of the changes de- 
scribed in the preceding pages, are of a 
similar kind to that produced on Saul of 
Tarsus, when on the road to Damascus he 
fell before that Jesus whom, at that very 
moment, he was furiously persecuting. 

If the facts here stated, then, cannot be 
denied, and if the principle of enthusiasm 
cannot account for them, we ask. How 
are they to be explained ? All who ad- 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 207 

mit the facts, are equally interested in this 
inquiry. To this question, then, the Bible 
alone gives a satisfactory answer. This 
book promises two things. First, to bring 
peace to the troubled conscience under a 
sense of guilt; and, secondly, to produce 
that blessed change in the sentiments, 
feelings, and desires of the mind, which 
enables a man to derive his enjoyment 
from new sources ; a change so extensive, 
as to be described by a new creation — by 
old things having passed away, and all 
things having become new. The first of 
these effects, then, it produces, by leading 
a man, under a sense of guilt, when he 
can find peace to his mind no where else, 
to the blood of Christ, which cleanseth 
from all sin — to rest his hopes on the 
atonement that was made for the guilty 
by the death of the Divine Redeemer. His 
peace thus rests on a revealed fact, which, 
if admitted to be true, is manifestly quite 
able to sustain it. The second effect it 
produces by the power of the Spirit of 
God applying Divine truth to the con- 
science, and through this channel renew- 
iug the mind, subduing the love of sin in 
the soul, and leading a man to derive his 



208 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



supreme happiness from conformity to the 
image and will of God. What this book 
promises, then, we have seen in various 
instances it has accomplished. The facts 
of the case completely tally with its state- 
ments. We have the testimony of sober 
and reflecting men, who can conduct the 
business of life as well as others, declaring 
deliberately, that they were strangers to 
solid happiness till they found it in the 
gospel of Christ ; while their subsequent 
conduct showed what a mighty moral re- 
volution was produced by the belief of the 
gospel on their whole character. In pro- 
portion, then, to the impossibility of ex- 
plaining these facts on any other principle, 
are we called to ascribe them to the only 
cause capable of accounting for them — 
the almighty agency of the Spirit of the 
living God. 

I am aware, that the charge of enthu- 
siasm is particularly brought against the 
doctrine of the influence of the Spirit of 
God on the mind ; and I readily admit, 
that very unguarded language has been 
used, and unscriptural sentiments, in which 
there was real enthusiasm, have been held 
on this subject. But let us carefully dis- 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 209 

tinguish these from the scriptural account 
of this doctrine. We hold, that the opera- 
tion of the Spirit of God on the mind;, is a 
fact simply stated in the Bible. Of the 
mode of that operation we know nothing, 
because nothing is revealed. But to ques- 
tion the fact, because the mode of this 
operation is not revealed, would be un- 
reasonable in the extreme. How many 
facts do we find in nature, and on which 
we reason without hesitation when they 
are fairly established, though there are 
many things connected with them which 
we cannot explain. The only question 
then is. Is it true that this fact is revealed? 
It thus becomes simply a question of criti- 
cisni. And here I ask, If the Almighty 
really designed to make known to us such 
a fact as the operation of the Divine Spirit 
on the human mind, could he have done 
it in clearer language? If not, then it 
follows that this is a fact which could not 
be revealed ; in short, we cannot admit it, 
because we have previously determined it 
is one we cannot receive. Is this bowing 
to the revelation given us, or is it not im- 
piously dictating what that revelation 
should be ? 

18* 



210 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

A revelation clearly implies the idea 
of our previous ignorance of what is re- 
vealed. As nothing in the Divine admin- 
istration is done in vain, it is this alone 
that makes it necessary. If we acknow- 
ledge, then, the existence of a revelation ; 
to admit at once what it clearly contains, 
is, I hold, the true philosophy of the case. 
Nothing appears more obviously incon- 
sistent with every rule of sound thinking 
and correct reasoning, than to acknow- 
ledge that the Almighty hath communica- 
ted his will to us ; and yet, to suppose that 
we are entitled to sit in judgment on what 
it is proper for him to reveal. 

There are two classes, besides the gen- 
uine disciples of Christ, into whose hands 
this volume may come. First, those who 
in general profess to admit the Divine 
authority of the Bible, while, at the same 
time, they join with others in placing to 
the score of enthusiasm such a change, as 
has in various instances been described. 
This is surely very inconsistent. Such a 
professed admission of the authority of re- 
velation must, with such persons, be mere- 
ly the effect of education, without their 
having ever seriously examined the sub- 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 211 



ject. If they did, they would find that, 
while enthusiasm was quite incapable of 
accounting for existing facts, they are 
fully accounted for by what the word of 
God clearly reveals ; and, therefore, that 
every principle of consistency requires us 
to take that explanation of them which it 
contains. 

Secondly ; there are others who may 
cast their eyes over these pages, who, if 
not avowed infidels, do not even profess 
to have formed any opinion on the subject. 
Notwithstanding the obvious and infinitely 
important nature of the inquiry, whether 
the Almighty has revealed his will to us, 
and if so, what that revelation contains, 
it is much to be feared, that the language 
which Dr. Johnson applied to Foote the 
comedian, is too applicable to many. 
When Mr. Boswell asked him, if Footo 
was not an infidel, he replied, Foote was 
an infidel, sir, as a dog is an infidel ; he 
never thought on the subject.'^ I have 
before adverted to the great importance — 
especially in the present day, when infidel 
sentiments are so often to be met with — 
of young men, not only in the army, but 
in the various walks of life, making them- 



212 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



selves acquainted with the general evi- 
dence in support of the Divine authority 
of revelation. But, I would here submit 
it to the consideration of the reader, if such 
facts as have been brought forward in this 
volume, do not form a valuable element, 
in their ov/n place, of this very evidence. 
Here is an effect produced, and wiiich is 
established on the most unquestionable 
testimony. But, while in vain we attempt 
to explain it in any other way, we find it 
in Scripture ascribed to a cause quite capa- 
ble of accounting for it, while it is traced 
to the operation of the Spirit of the living 
God. While such an effect, then, from its 
own character, very distinctly marks the 
finger of God, does it not tend to confirm 
the Divine authority of that book, in 
which alone we find it satisfactorily ex- 
plained ? 

It may not, perhaps, occur to some who 
may object to these statements, that, by 
this very conduct, they are in one way 
confirming the truth of those Scriptures, 
the authority of which they may be dis- 
73osed at least to question. Such conduct 
is just fulfilling such a declaration as the 
following : " The natural man receiveth 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 213 

not the things of the Spirit of God : neither 
can he know them, because they are spirit- 
ually discerned so true is the deUneation 
of the state of the human mind which this 
book contains.* 

Does the old and common objection 
here occur to any of my readers : " I must 
wait, then, for this spiritual discernment, 
and if it is not imparted to me, I cannot 

* This part of the argument forcibly reminds me 
of an anecdote told of the late Mr. Wilberforce. On 
one occasion, when a parliamentary friend called 
upon him, he was found reading his Bible. He 
began to rally him for taking up his time with that 
old musty book, remarking, that we saw the course 
of nature going on as usual, and that there was no 
reason to expect that those future events the Bible 
spoke of would ever take place. Mr. W. replied, 
" It is sufficiently singular, that what you have been 
saying, is just the accomplishment of what I have 
been reading." Then turning to 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4, he 
thus read: "Knowing this first, that there shall 
come in the last days scoiTers, walking after their 
own lusts, and saying. Where is the promise of his 
coming ] for since the fathers fell asleep, all things 
continue as they were from the beginning of the 
creation." The coincidence powerfully struck at 
the time the gentleman to whom the remark was 
made, though I never heard that any permanent 
eifect was produced. 



214 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

help it; I am not to blame." The Scrip- 
tures, on one occasion, speak of those 
who are willingly ignorant ; and we may 
safely say, that none urge this plea but 
such as are so. It is a mere apology for 
continued hostility or indifference. Let 
such as are disposed to bring forward this 
objection, reflect that though difficulties 
on this subject may be stated, which it is 
impossible from the present limited nature 
of our faculties to solve, this is an objection 
which no man finds will give any satis- 
faction to his own mind. A man may 
silence an opponent by an argument, 
which he is perfectly conscious does not 
satisfy himself. All feel, that while we 
are addressed in Scripture as rational and 
accountable beings, if we either neglect to 
inquire whether God hath revealed his 
will, or to attend to it if made known, we 
are considered personally guilty 5 and 
while this is the plain language of the 
word of God, every man's own conscience 
supports the charge. I shall here only 
mention two texts of Scripture, which will 
leave every man at last without excuse. 
Jesus saith, " Him that cometh unto me, 
I will in no wise cast out.'' And again, 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 215 

" If ye, then, being evil, know how to give 
good gifts unto your children ; how much 
more shall your heavenly Father give the 
Holy Spirit to them that ask him!'^ The 
invitation of the first is without limit. 
And does any man plead the force of temp- 
tation, or his own weakness and inability 
to do the will of God ? If he do not persever- 
ingly apply for the promised aid contained 
in the second, will he not at last be left 
speechless, and incapable of pleading any 
apology ? 

Perhaps the case may be put in a popu- 
lar form, thus : — While every one must 
be conscious of a propensity to evil, there 
are two states of mind in reference to it. 
We may either deliberately indulge and 
cherish this propensity ; or, we may lament 
it, endeavour to resist it, and feel a most 
sincere desire to have it subdued. Now, 
no one will deny that the former state of 
mind is criminal. Every man feels this, 
and that it justly deserves condemnation. 
On the other hand, if we truly desire to 
have every sinful propensity subdued, we 
come under that description of character 
given by our Lord, when he says, " If 
any man will do his,'^ [God's] will, he 



216 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

shall know of the doctrine whether it be 
of God.^' Such a man will be led at once 
to plead the fulfilment of the promise, that 
the Father will give the Holy Spirit to 
those that ask him ; and such as persever- 
ingly do this, we are assured shall not do 
so in vain. Does not this clearly leave 
those without excuse who deliberately in- 
dulge in evil, while so gracious a promise 
is treated with neglect? But, without pur- 
suing these observations further, I would 
refer the reader to a volume entitled " The 
Test of Truth,'' by the late Mary Jane 
Graham, and which is edited by the well- 
known and valuable author of the Com- 
mentary on the II 9th Psalm, the Rev. 
Charles Bridges. In this volume, the 
ample encouragement to every serious in- 
quirer from the last mentioned text, is 
stated with much cogency and success. 

Before bringing these remarks to a close, 
I must call the attention of the reader to 
another important lesson, taught by those 
examples of the power of Divine grace 
that have been brought before him. It 
will be observed, that in several of the 
cases here recorded, the individuals had 
enjoyed in early life the blessing of a reli- 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 217 

gions education; and though the impres- 
sion produced by it seemed for a season to 
have been in a great measure obliterated, 
it was afterwards revived, and the most 
valuable effects were produced. Indeed, 
these are only a few specimens out of 
many, in which early religious instruction 
has been found, if not entirely to prevent 
young people from going astray, at least 
to keep them somewhat in check, by crea- 
ting secret compunctions, at every recol- 
lection of the instruction and example they 
received under a pious father's roof, while 
these recollections also have often contri- 
buted their share in a subsequent conver- 
sion from sin to God. The late Rev. John 
Newton, so well known for his singular 
history, and his valuable theological writ- 
ings, was a signal example of this. Amidst 
all his sinfulness and folly, he never forgot 
the instructions of his pious mother. Re- 
ferring to this, he observes, in his " Au- 
thentic Narrative " I think, for the 
encouragement of pious parents to go on 
in the good way of doing their part faith- 
fully to form their children's minds, I may 
properly propose myself as an instance. 
Though, in the process of time, I sinned 
19 



218 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



away all the advantages of these early 
impressions; yet they were, for a great 
while, a restraint upon me ; they returned 
again and again, and it was very long be- 
fore I could wholly shake them off ; and 
when the Lord, at length, opened my 
eyes, I found a great benefit from the re- 
collection of them. Farther, my dear 
mother, besides the pains she took with 
me, often recommended me with many 
prayers and tears to God ; and, I doubt 
not, but I reap the fruits of these prayers 
to this hour.^^ 

I could name another valuable Christian 
friend, who, like him, spent much of his 
early life at sea, who derived a similar be- 
nefit from the same source, the early in- 
structions of a pious mother.* Surely, 

* In referring to this friend, I take the opportunity 
of introducing here one observation made by him, 
and which, though not immediately connected with 
this subject, I consider particular worthy of notice. 
It is this, that there is great reason to suspect that 
there is much deception in the vain boasting, which 
some make, that they are not afraid to die. At one 
time, when in India, he was taken dangerously ill, 
and thought he was dying; but, as he plumed him- 
self on firmness of mind, and superiority to the fear 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



219 



such cases present a powerful encourage- 
ment to professing Christian parents, to be 

of death, when his friends called upon him he ap- 
peared quite easy and composed. So much was this 
the case, that he is confident if he had died, at that 
time, he would have died game, as it is called ; and, 
from what I know of his natural strength of mind, I 
have no doubt he would have done so. At the same 
time, he now confesses, that amidst all this appear- 
ance of coolness and firmness, he was torn with in- 
ward anguish. 

When one such game character survives, and by 
being brought to adopt principles which render him 
not ashamed to acknowledge the fear of death, dis- 
closes a secret which he formerly so successfully 
concealed, is there not reason to conclude that he 
only describes what passes in many a mind, in which, 
from mistaken pride, the existence of a feeling cer- 
tainly so natural, is denied. Dr. Johnson said to Mr. 
Boswell, in his own rough way, when the latter re- 
marked that he was informed that Mr. Hume was 
not afraid of death, that he must have lied if he said 
so, as even on his own principles he, at least, lost all 
that he had. 

To profess a superiority to the fear of death, so 
far from deserving the name of courage, or any 
other expressive of admiration, is inconsistent with 
every principle of our rational nature. The most con- 
summate infidel cannot fail to recollect, in his reflect- 
ing moments, if he has such, that there is a material 
difference between doubting whether there is a God 



220 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



very faithful and assiduous in the religious 
instruction of their children. These in- 

and a future state of existence, and being certain 
that there is neither. The latter no man can be. 
That power, be it what it may, which brought him 
into existence, certainly can continue that existence. 
He cannot deny that, it may be, there is a God, and 
it may be that God is a being who will punish the 
violation of his law in a future state ; and the very 
possibility of this, associated with the conviction that 
every man must feel of personal guilt, in having 
acted in opposition to what he himself knew to be 
duty incumbent on him, is enough to appal the stout- 
est heart. This shows the admirable adaptation of 
the gospel to the state and character of man. It 
alone furnishes us with principles, which, under the 
most enlarged view of the purity of the Divine cha- 
racter and the extent of human demerit, brings to 
the mind well-grounded peace. 

Some time ago, I had a striking illustration of this 
last remark, in a conversation I had with an infidel 
on his sick bed. He told me that, v^^hen he was 
taken ill, he thought he would rely on the general 
mercy of God; that as he never had done any thing 
very bad, he hoped all would be well. " But as my 
weakness increased," he added, " I began to think, Is 
not God a just being as well as mercifuH Now, 
what reason have I to think he will treat me with 
mercy, and not with justice 1 and if I am treated with 
justice," he said, with much emotion, "where am IT' 
I showed him that this was the very difficulty the 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 221 

structions, though, for a season, they may 
seem to have been lost, may bring forth 
fruit to the glory of God, and the eternal 
benefit of the subjects of them, when the 
tongue that communicated them is silent 
m the grave. 

But, while I thus advert to the import- 
ance of early religious instruction, I must 
add what is essentialljr necessary to give 
efficacy to such instruction, a consistent 
example. Could we trace the history of 
mind in its various early and unseen ope- 
rations, it might be found that, in many 
instances, the weight of parental authority 
was first shaken by some inconsistency in 
a parentis conduct. A child is, in the first 
instance, naturally led to look to its parent 
for direction and instruction in every thing. 

gospel met and removed, as it showed how mercy- 
could be exercised in perfect consistency with the 
strictest demands of justice, while it was bestowed 
through the atonement made by Jesus Christ. x\fter 
explaining this doctrine, and pressing it on his at- 
tention and acceptance, one of the last things he said 
to me, before leaving him, was, " Well, I believe it 
must come to this. I confess I here see a solid foot- 
ing to rest on, which, on my former principles, I 
could never find." 

19 * 



222 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

This is very happily expressed by a valua- 
ble writer of the present day. " To feel a 
sorrow/' says he, " and to communicate 
that sorrow to a father's ear ; to experi- 
ence a want, and to bring that want to be 
relieved by a father's hand, are, to a simple 
child, simultaneous movements of the 
heart. It knows itself only in connexion 
with its father; it has no experience of 
pain or pleasure that does not fall back 
upon him ; it looks up to him for explana- 
tion of every difficulty, flees to him in 
every danger, rests on him with quiet con- 
fidence in his power to protect, and, folded 
in his arms, can look round with a steady 
eye upon a threatening world. '^'^ 

Now, in order that parental authority 
may be maintained, and turned to a useful 
account, the feeling ought to be, as much 
as possible, fostered in the mind of a child, 
that his father is capable of directing and 
instructing him, that he can teach him 
what is right and what is wrong. But, 
suppose the child to discover in his father 
some great inconsistency with his own in- 
structions or admonitions, from that mo- 



* " The Spiritual Life," by the Rev. T. Griffith. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 223 

nient his reverence for his father's autho- 
rity will be weakened ; and, could we 
trace the minute and unseen connexion 
between causes and effects^ it might be 
discovered, that all the subsequent aberra- 
tions of that child from the path of duty, 
which perhaps ended in his ruin, arose 
from this very cause. If he too, afterwards, 
became the father of a- family, the evil 
habits and principles thus originated may 
be found transmitted to future generations. 
Who then can calculate the extent of that 
aggregate of human misery and guilt that 
may arise from a single case of parental 
mconsistency ? It is fearful to contem- 
plate such a progression of evil, or the pos- 
sible extent of its range in the subsequent 
history of our race. 

Look, on the other hand, for a moment, 
at the opposite side of the picture. Some 
years ago, a fine illustration incidentally 
appeared of the delightful effect produced 
by the consistency of a father's character 
on the mind of his own son, and in a way 
which was to him, at the time, altogether 
unknown. It is as follows : — It is well 
known to be the custom in many of the 
independent churches, when one is ordain- 



824 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



ed to the pastoral charge, that he gives 
some account of his views of the leading 
doctrines of JDiviiie truth, and of the mo- 
tives by which he is influenced in engag- 
ing in the ministry ; and this is frequently 
accompanied with a detail of some of the 
leading circumstances of his previous his- 
tory, especially of the means by which his 
attention had been directed to the salva- 
tion revealed in the gospel. It was on 
this occasion the candidate for ordination, 
to whom I refer, noticed that at one period 
of his life, he had nearly been betrayed 
into the principles of infidelity. But, when 
assailed by some infidel reasonings, he 
added, " There was one argument in fa- 
vour of revealed religion, the force of 
which I could never overcome — the con- 
sistent Christian conduct of my own 
father.^' This, it would appear, he had 
been marking with silent attention, and 
what he beheld had been made, through 
the blessing of God, the instrument of 
preserving him from that fatal abyss into 
vvhich he was in so much danger of falling. 

I was not informed, if his father was 
present on the occasion; but, if he was, I 
shall not attempt to describe the feelings 



CONCLUDING REMAKES. 225 

of overwhelming gratitude and sacred joy- 
that must have thrilled in his bosom at 
hearing, perhaps for the first time, such a 
declaration. What Christian parent would 
not be disposed to envy such a character; 
who would not feel it his highest happiness 
and honour, were he the instrument of 
producing a similar impression on the 
minds of his children ? I am sure I need 
add no more on this part of the subject. 
This anecdote presents, in a much more 
impressive manner than I could do in any 
other way, the high importance of parents 
enforcing upon their children the instruc- 
tions they give them, by a life carefully 
regulated by the precepts they enjoin. 

But, is it proper to confine our remarks 
to the importance of consistency in parents, 
or to look merely at the effect of the pre- 
sence, or the absence of it in them ? Let 
every reader, who professes to believe that 
a day of reckoning is approaching, remem- 
ber that there is no such thing as a cha- 
racter perfectly neutral. " He that is not 
with me," says our Lord Jesus Christ, "is 
against me.'^ Every man is silently, by 
his influence and example, doing either 
good or evil to those around him. If his 



226 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

principles are avowedly bad, while he 
blushes not to declare them, but acts in con- 
sistency with them, he is a moral pestilence. 
If, again, he is one who professes good 
principles, but violates them in practice, 
he will be in danger of creating or strength- 
ening the prejudices of those around him 
against such principles, while they find 
them professed by one who acts so incon- 
sistently. Or, if the principles themselves 
are manifestly too excellent to suffer by 
such an inconsistent professor, his cha- 
racter, at least, cannot fail to present a per- 
nicious example ; as his profession will be 
considered mere hypocrisy, from its want 
of mfluence upon his conduct. If, on the 
.other hand, while professing the faith of 
the gospel, he exhibits its daily influence 
on the general tenor of his temper, conver- 
sation, and conduct ; such a man is an in- 
estimable blessing to the community in 
which he is placed ; and it is only a future 
day that will disclose the extent of the be- 
nefit that is conferred on the world by 
such an example. What watchfulness, 
then, what holy circumspection should 
these considerations constantly inspire ! 



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